Ashour awaits Matthew once again in final

The 29-year-old world No 2, from Sheffield, was pushed hard by his fellow Yorkshireman in the PSA Super Series event semi-final which lasted more than an hour.

But No 2 seed Mathew once again prevailed - making it his fourth straight win over 26-year-old Willstrop - eventually triumphing 11-8, 11-9, 12-10.

Ashour - who piped Matthew to the world No 1 ranking with victory over him in last year's Saudi International final also had a hard encounter with fellow Egyptian and former leading player on the PSA Tour, amr Shabana.

Twice Ashour had to come from behind to eventually pip the No 3 seed 12-14, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 following a gruelling 75-minute tussle.

Matthew and Ashour will contest the final - for the second successive year - at around 10pm (GMT) on Saturday night.

After, negotiating his way past Leeds's Willstrop for the third time in as many events this year, Matthew hoped his slightly shorter last four clash would give him the edge in Saturday's final.

"I'm delighted with the way I played tonight," said Matthew, now in his 32nd Tour final, before going on to praise the help both he and Willstrop had been getting from England Squash coach David Campion.

"We've done a lot of work on my short game this week, so it's nice to see it finally coming off," he added. "I'm just delighted to get it off 3/0 – which gives me the chance against Ramy when I'll be relatively fresh."

Saturday night's winner of the Richmond final will top the PSA Super Series 2010 rankings – but, if it were Matthew, he would share the lead with fellow countryman James Willstrop.

North American Open Squash Championship, Richmond, Virginia, USA

Results

Semi-finals:

(1] Ramy Ashour (EGY) bt (3] Amr Shabana (EGY) 12-14, 13-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8 (76m)

(2] Nick Matthew (ENG) bt (7] James Willstrop (ENG) 11-8, 11-9, 12-10 (62m)