Live: World Match Play

Defending champion Els enjoyed a comfortable 5&4 semi-final win over Ireland's Padraig Harrington.

Westwood reached five-up with eight to play against Ryder Cup colleague Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain but had to fight off a late charge to win one-up.

Els, 35 on Sunday, is chasing a record sixth title, while Westwood is eyeing a second win after victory in 2000.

"I've played Ernie a couple of times round here and had some success so it'll be nice to play him," said Westwood.

Els, who won three straight titles between 1994-1996 as well as 2002 and 2003, went ahead at the seventh and led by three at halfway of the 36-hole semi-final with Harrington.

It's just what you don't want when someone comes back at you like that Lee Westwood

And the world number two never allowed Harrington - carrying a thumb injury after hitting a tree with his follow-through on Friday - to narrow the gap.

The Wentworth-based South African fluctuated between three-up and four-up in the second round before ending it at the 14th.

"It's been a long week and it's a good thing I have a week off next week. I think I'll need it," said Els.

"It's quite a battle, but it's worth it. It's been seven times now [in the final] and it's nice. I'm just delighted.

"But it's one thing to make the final, it's another thing trying to win."

Harrington, who rated himself only 50-50 to start on Saturday, said his injured thumb caused plenty of problems.

"I didn't have any certainty about my distances on the course," he said.

Jimenez downs Cup captain Langer

"That cost me more than anything - the ball not going as far as I thought, then over-clubbing."

Jimenez, who downed his Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer 2&1 earlier on Saturday, quickly took a lead against Westwood, only to see it cancelled out at the sixth.

The Spaniard edged clear twice more before an eagle at the long 12th from Westwood gave him the lead for the first time.

The Englishman went two-up with a birdie on the 15th and two straight birdies for wins opened significant daylight on his opponent, though Jimenez grabbed one hole back with a birdie on 18 for three-down at the break.

Westwood alternated between four and five-up for most of the afternoon but a bogey at the 11th, their 29th, threatened to derail his challenge.

I tried to do my best but I've played 45 holes today Miguel Angel Jimenez

Jimenez eagled the long 12th to close the gap to three-down and won the 13th with a birdie to reduce the lead to two holes.

A further birdie at 16 took Jimenez to within one hole but a half on 17 gave Westwood breathing space and he duly triumphed with a half in birdie fours at 18.

"It was a fantastic game, that's what matchplay is all about," said the 31-year-old Westwood.

"Miguel played fantastic golf around the back nine. It's just what you don't want when someone comes back at you like that when you are five-up.

"Miguel put me under some pressure. Suddenly six foot putts are not easy. We need a beer now."

Jimenez admitted his early start for the completion of his quarter-final with Langer could have taken its toll.

"I tried to do my best but I've played 45 holes today," said the 40-year-old.