Shiv Kapur and Gaurav Ghei bounced back in style to take India into a three-way share of the lead at the midway stage of the World Cup qualifying campaign in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
The Indians, who posted a second round of one-under-par 70 in the foursomes format, took full advantage of the par fives as they came back into contention after being fifth overnight. They were the only team to break par on a tough scoring day at Seri Selangor Golf Club.
The Indian pair shared the lead with Singapore's Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing and the Philippines team of Juvic Pagunsan and Gerald Rosales, all on four-under-par 138.
However, the start was rather disappointing for the Indians as they double bogeyed the second hole after Ghei drove into the trees. But thereafter they recovered and converted birdies on the par fives fifth and sixth holes.
They did drop shots on seventh and ninth but another birdie on 11th kept them level for the round before Kapur produced a moment of magic.
Lying in the greenside bunker at the par five 13th, the 24-year-old splashed his team's third shot out actually landed into the cup for an unlikely eagle.
The Indians also dropped a shot at the last after Ghei missed the fairway.
"When we were walking up the 13th green, I casually told Shiv to just hole the bunker shot and he goes on to do it. It was amazing," Ghei said.
Kapur lauded Ghei for holding the ship together after their rough start.
"Gaurav kept telling me to keep fighting after our miserable start. It's turned out well as the other teams struggled in this format.
"We've got our confidence back as we were both unhappy about the first round," said Ghei, who is chasing a third World Cup appearance.
"We kept it going and hung in there with some sensible golf."
Singapore overcame an early double bogey to shoot a 73, which included three birdies and three bogeys, while the Filipinos scrambled to a 74.
Overnight leaders Hong Kong, represented by James Stewart and David Freeman, dropped to tied fourth with Finland on 141 after a 78.
The top two teams after four rounds will qualify for the World Golf Championships-World Cup in Barbados in December.
Mardan and Lam had a disastrous start, four-putting the third hole for a double bogey five before Mardan knocked a nine iron to 10 feet for Lam to convert a birdie on the seventh.
Mardan hit another glorious eight iron to three feet for birdie on eight but a bogey on the ninth with a three putt saw them turn in one-over.
The Singaporeans dropped two more shots on 14th and 16th against a birdie on 17th, thanks to a 15-foot conversion by Lam, to sign for a 73.
Pagunsan and Rosales birdied all three par fives but suffered four bogeys and a double bogey.
The third round will revert back to the four-ball format before Saturday's final round which will use the foursomes play.
138: India (Shiv Kapur/Gaurav Ghei) 68-70, Singapore (Mardan Mamat/Lam Chih Bing) 65-73, Philippines (Gerald Rosales/Juvic Pagunsan) 64-74.
141: Finland (Mikko Maneros/Juha Pekka Peltomaki) 69-72, Hong Kong (James Stewart/David Freeman) 63-78 143: Italy (Emanuele Canonica/Francesco Molinari) 68-75, Malaysia (Danny
Chia/Iain Steel) 65-78.
144: Switzerland (Martin Romlinger/Nicolas Sulzes) 70-74.
145: Chinese Taipei (Lu Wei-lan/Lu Wei-chih) 70-75.
146: Holland (Ruben Wechgelaer/John Bleys) 73-73.
147: Pakistan (Muhammed Munir/Imdad Hussain) 69-78
148: Ghana (Emos Korblah/Victo Brave Mensah) 69-79
150: Myanmar (Zaw Moe/Soe Kyaw Naing) 72-78
160: Mauritius (Billy Narraina/Vishnoo Seeneevassen) 75-85.
