British Open: Nick Matthew on course for record third win

Nick Matthew remains on course to become the first Englishman in the British Open's 82-year history to win the title for a third time.

The 31-year-old dispatched fellow countryman Peter Barker 11-5 11-8 11-6 in 45 minutes to reach Sunday's final.

Top seed James Willstrop failed to make it an all-English final, losing 8-11 11-6 11-6 11-8 to Egyptian Ramy Ashour.

In the women's final, Malaysia's world champion Nicol David will meet 16-year-old Egyptian Nour El Sherbini.

“I wanted to get on top early and I managed to do that”

Nick Matthew

David, 28, has been a dominant force in women's squash for the past seven years, and beat England's Laura Massaro with an impressive 11-5 11-8 11-4.

Her next opponent, world junior champion El Sherbini, became the first Egyptian female to reach a British Open final after beating compatriot Raneem El Weleily 14-12 7-11 11-4 11-9.

Sheffield-born Matthew, whose previous two final appearances in 2006 and 2009 ended in victory, faced Barker in the last-four match after the sixth seed from London upset second-seeded Frenchman Gregory Gaultier in the quarter-finals.

"I was pleased with the way I started," said Matthew. "I knew Peter had a hard match last night so I wanted to get on top early and I managed to do that.

"I'm looking forward to playing the final tomorrow in such a tremendous venue and atmosphere."