Australia will meet India in the second World cup semi-final in Derby on Thursday, five days after flexing their muscle to down South Africa by 59 runs in Taunton.
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England cruised to victory over the West Indies to wrap up top place and will host the Proteas at Bristol on Tuesday while New Zealand have missed the finals entirely after being crushed by India, who had to win to secure their place in the knockout phase.
That top-four configuration means tournament officials are still on track for their dream England-Australia final at Lord's, although much water still must pass under this World Cup bridge before that potential blockbuster is advertised.
Australia comfortably accounted for India by eight wickets on Wednesday, and much must change for the tables to turn next week after the Aussies produced another dominant performance to down the Proteas in the final round, even without captain Meg Lanning.
South Africa might well point to the controversial run out of Marizanne Kapp in the 37th over as the critical turning point in this run chase.
Kapp took on Alex Blackwell's arm at wide mid off, and a direct hit had umpire Chris Brown raising his finger to send the South African all rounder back to the pavilion.
No third-umpire technology was available in this fixture, given it wasn't the televised match of the round, so Brown was unable to verify his decision. Had he been able to do so, replays would've showed Kapp had made her ground comfortably.
"That was a changing moment in the game because she was hitting it really well," South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk said.
"Maybe something would've changed there. Again, the umpire's just human, he doesn't have the luxury of TV, that's very important to have that.
"Our fielding was really disappointing, not really disappointing it was probably one of the poorest performances I've seen us have on the field today, it just went straight through our legs.
"We really have to go back to the drawing board and smooth things out that can cost you a semi-final."
South Africa started strongly and Laura Wolvaardt blasted 71 from 94 at the top of the order chasing 270 to win but she needed more help.
Trisha Chetty made it to 37 after being dropped on one at square leg by Megan Schutt, but she also failed to take on the Australian fielding, run out by Ellyse Perry's rocket arm.
The South African innings then started to crumble, with stand-in captain Rachael Haynes, Jess Jonassen and Perry all claiming multiple wickets.
This was a stern test for Haynes especially with the opposition at 1-99 and looking supremely comfortable on the wonderful Taunton wicket.
She may not feature again at this World Cup - Australia can't afford to rest regular skipper Meg Lanning any more now the tournament has moved into its knockout phase.
But she did a good job nonetheless, adding to her win over Pakistan earlier in the competition.
Haynes won the toss and aggressively elected to bat, allowing openers Nicole Bolton (79) and Beth Mooney (53) to post 114 for the opening wicket.
"We just really enjoy batting with each other, I think it's every now and then when one's going the other's just working through a bit of a patch and then the roles tend to change and I think we just complement each other really well," Bolton said.
"Although we're both left handers, I feel like we hit to different areas of the ground which can be quite hard for a bowler to find the right line and length when they bowl.
"It's just really great to see hard work from Moons paying off at the top as well.
"We really set the tone with our batting innings. I know we left a couple of balls out there but I think our intent to go pretty big was evident.
"On any given day, irrelevant of where we play, our best cricket is going to go out there and win the match."
A score of 300-plus beckoned with the score at 2-154, but once Bolton departed a steady stream of wickets ensued.
Perry racked up her fifth-straight half century of the tournament but picked out Sydney Sixers teammate Kapp off the bowling of Sune Luus for 55.
She had earlier copped a beamer from speedster Masabata Klaas, who reoffended a few overs later and was given her marching orders mid over by the umpires.
Luus claimed dangerous duo Alyssa Healy (16) and Ashleigh Gardner (4) late on to finish with 5-67 in a slightly expensive but effective showing.
