CANBERRA (Australia), Aug 13 World number one Nick Matthew will play James Willstrop in an all-English semi-final after victories at the Professional Squash Association (PSA) Super Series Australian Open here on Friday.

Sixth-seed Willstrop demolished former world number one Amr Shabana of Egypt 11-4, 11-5, 11-7 in the quarter-finals, while Matthew survived an early examination before prevailing over compatriot Peter Barker, 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 in a contest of exceptional quality.

In Saturday's other semi-final, Frenchman Gregory Gaultier takes on mercurial Egyptian second seed Ramy Ashour.

Fifth seed Gaultier, who briefly reached the world number one ranking late last year, downed Egypt's fourth seed Karim Darwish 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7.

Ashour disposed of Thierry Lincou 11-7, 11-6, 11-2 in another Franco-Egyptian quarter-final.

Matthew was in early trouble against Barker, who raced away with the first game, but at 5-5 in the second he went off the boil and allowed Matthew to win the next six points to even the match and march to victory.

Gaultier said he was back to his best and enjoying his squash again after getting past Darwish.

The Frenchman said after training hard over the season break and talking about his problems with his coach and family, he was now approaching squash with a new attitude.

Ashour was devastating, giving Lincou no chance in one of the most impressive displays of the tournament.

In the women's tournament, top seeds Jenny Duncalf of England and Australian Rachael Grinham are on course to play each other in Sunday's Australian final.

Duncalf downed Australia's Kasey Brown 11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5 and will face Northern Ireland's Madeline Perry in the semi-finals, while second seed Grinham downed fellow Australian Donna Urquhart, 11-7, 11-5, 11-8.

Grinham will take on England's third seed Alison Waters on Saturday after Waters eliminated New Zealander Jaclyn Hawkes 11-5, 11-9, 11-7.

Fourth seed Perry accounted for English fifth seed Laura Massaro 2-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10.

Results

Men's

Quarter-finals Nick Matthew (ENG x1) bt Peter Barker (ENG x8) 4-11, 11-5, 11-9, 12-10; James Willstrop (ENG x6) bt Amr Shabana (EGY x3) 11-4, 11-5, 11-7; Gregory Gaultier (FRA x5) bt Karim Darwish (EGY x4) 11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 11-7; Ramy Ashour (EGY x2) bt Thierry Lincou (FRA x7) 11-7, 11-6, 11-2.

Women's

Quarter-finals Jenny Duncalf (ENG x1) bt Kasey Brown (AUS x6) 11-5, 11-8, 11-13, 11-5; Madeline Perry (IRL x4) bt Laura Massaro (ENG x5) 2-11, 11-6, 11-5, 12-10; Alison Waters (ENG x3) bt Jaclyn Hawkes (NZL x8) 11-5, 11-9, 11-7; Rachael Grinham (AUS x2) bt Donna Urquhart (AUS x11) 11-7, 11-5, 11-8. —AFP