Buoyed by a knock of 80 from Laura Wolvaardt and 49 from Lara Goodall, South Africa completed the second-highest successful run chase in Women’s World Cup history in reaching 275-7 to win by three wickets.
India could be forgiven for feeling sorry for themselves having been on the receiving end of the highest run chase in the tournament’s history eight days earlier, as Australia made 280 to beat them.
Du Preez – who scored just nine runs from her first three games in the tournament – could take the late acclaim, even though Sharma was agonisingly close to dismissing her with the penultimate ball.
“I have been very fortunate as the girls have supported me,” said Du Preez.
“I haven’t had the best start to the tournament with the bat but to to be able to do it for us today is very special. It means the world. It’s been a tough few weeks. Getting the momentum right into the semi-final, I’ll take that any day of the week.”