Australia made a good start to the second day foursomes at the Omega Mission Hills World Cup to maintain their two shot cushion over Ireland at the Mission Hills resort on Hainan Island.
Having finished Thursday's fourballs top of the leaderboard at 11 under par, Brendan Jones and Richard Green were three under par through seven holes of their second roun - albeit with Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell hard on their heels.
The Australian pair began well with a birdie at the second and although they dropped a shot at the fourth, recovered with a birdie at the next when Green chipped in from the bunker and an eagle at the sixth after Jones hit a stunning second shot to 15 feet to reach 14 under par through seven holes.
Following an opening 63, Ireland maintained their pursuit of the Australians as McIlroy and McDowell compiled three birdies in their opening eight holes to move to 12 under par.
Scotland's Martin Laird and Stephen Gallacher, meanwhile, were level par for the day after seven holes to remain in a group at nine under that also featured United States, Netherlands, France and Colombia.
South African duo Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen had climbed to eight under with two holes to play thanks to five birdies and a bogey while Wales sat seven shots off the lead as Rhys Davies and Jamie Donaldson could only muster two birdies through 13 holes.
