• EurAsia Cup

McDowell and Donaldson cling on as Asians rally

Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson gave Europe a four-point cushion © Getty Images

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Graeme McDowell and Jamie Donaldson came from behind for the second match running to ensure Europe head into the final day of the inaugural EurAsia Cup with a four-point lead over Asia.

The hosts, 5-0 down after Thursday's fourballs, rallied early at Glenmarie Golf & Country Club in Kuala Lumpur and got on the scoreboard when Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng and South Korea's Kim Hyung-sung stormed to a 4&3 victory over the Danish pair of Thomas Bjorn and Thorjorn Olesen.

EurAsia Cup Foursomes results

• Jaidee & Aphibarnrat halved with Jimenez & Larrazabal
• Marksaeng & Kim halved beat Bjorn and Olesen 4&3
• Oda & Tanihara halved with Castano & Gallacher
• Lahiri & Rahman beat Luiten & Dubuisson 1-up
• McDowell & Donaldson beat Bhullar & Fung 2&1

Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat were one-up heading down the 18th against Spaniards Miguel Angel Jimenez and Pablo Larrazabal, but a stunning approach from playing captain Jimenez snatched a half from the Thai duo.

Another Spaniard, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano and Scotland's Stephen Gallagher shared a fascinating point with Japan's Koumei Oda and Hideto Tanihara. The European pair were three holes to the good at the turn, but their opponents won four of the next six holes to take a late lead before a birdie at 17 from the visitors levelled matters.

When India's Anirban Lahiri and Bangladeshi Siddikur Rahman rallied to beat Dutchman Joost Luiten and France's in-form Victor Dubuisson by a single hole, the score was 6-3.

But McDowell and Donaldson, one-down with three to play, recovered for a 2&1 win over India's Gaganjeet Bhullar and Singapore youngster Nicholas Fung.

"We played pretty solid all the way through," Donaldson told the European Tour website. "A couple more putts here and there, and we'd have been in a much stronger position but we're very happy with the result."

The teams will play 10 singles matches on Saturday, when Europe will need just 3.5 points to clinch the first trophy in the Ryder Cup-style event.

EurAsia Cup Singles Draw

Match 1: Nicholas Fung v Miguel Angel Jimenez
Match 2: Thongchai Jaidee v Graeme McDowell
Match 3: Kiradech Aphibarnrat v Thomas Bjorn
Match 4: Prayad Marksaeng v Jamie Donaldson
Match 5: Kim Hyung-sung v Pablo Larrazabal
Match 6: Anirban Lahiri v Victor Dubuisson
Match 7: Gaganjeet Bhullar v Thorbjorn Olesen
Match 8: Koumej Oda v Joos Luiten
Match 9: Hideto Tanihara v Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano
Match 10: Siddikur Rahman v Stephen Gallacher

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