KUALA LUMPUR: Asia staged a dramatic comeback against defending champions Europe to hang on to a one-point lead on Saturday, the second day of the EurAsia Cup in Malaysia.

The result in the foursome matches sets up a tense showdown for Sunday’s singles, with Indian captain Arjun Atwal’s team fighting for Asia’s first ever victory in the Ryder Cup-style match play tournament.

Europe were firmly in control in the early stages Saturday and Asia, who started the day a point ahead, saw their lead vanish as skipper Thomas Bjorn’s side won the first three matches.

But victory for Yuta Ikeda of Japan and Malaysia’s Gavin Green proved the turning point for Asia, and they went on to win the final two games and end the day on 6 1/2 to Europe’s 5 1/2.

Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson gave the Europeans a strong start by beating Indian duo Anirban Lahiri and SSP Chawrasia 3-2.

Paul Casey and Tyrrell Hatton, both from England, put Team Europe ahead with a 2-1 victory over Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat and South Korea’s An Byeong-Hun.

A 3-2 victory for England’s Matthew Fitzpatrick and Belgium’s Thomas Pieters against Thailand’s Poom Saksansin and South Korea’s Kang Sung-hoon extended Team Europe’s lead to two points.

But the tide turned in favour of the Asians with a dramatic victory for Green and Ikeda.

Harman leads in LA

Harman capped a seven-under par 63 with an eagle at his final hole Friday to seize a three-shot lead in the second round of the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii.

Harman, who has four top-10 finishes in four starts in the US tour’s 2017-18 season, teed off early at Waialae in Honolulu, and opened with back-to-back birdies at the 10th and 11th.

His six birdies on the day included three in a row at the second, third and fourth and he rolled in a 17-footer at the par-five ninth for an eagle that gave him a 13-under total of 127.

Agence France-Presse