Europe stay in touch

Asia moved a step closer to retaining the Royal Trophy after they maintained their two point lead over Europe following Saturday's four fourballs matches in Guangzhou.

The hosts need to claim three-and-a-half points from Sunday's eight singles matches after ensuring they would go into the final day 5-3 ahead.

Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat immediately built on their overnight 3-1 lead with a 2 and 1 success over Scottish duo Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.

José María Olazábal's European team then missed out on what appeared a certain point after David Howell and Marc Warren were two up with two to play.

Liang Wen-chong, playing with Wu Ashun, birdied the 17th and when the Europeans made a mess of the last the point was shared.

Ryder Cup winning Captain Olazábal was therefore reliant on his final pairings to keep Europe in touch as Thorbjørn Olesen and Bernd Wiesberger beat Ryo Ishikawa and Hiroyuki Fujita 2 and 1.

Big-hitting duo Nicolas Colsaerts and Alvaro Quiros then also came from two down at the 16th to steal a half from Kim Hyung-sung and Kim Kyung-tae.

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