David Lipsky made the big move early on day two of the Maybank Championship to get within one shot of overnight leader Marc Warren.
Warren fired a brilliant 63 in round one at Saujana Golf and Country Club to open up a two-shot lead but Lipsky, Gaganjeet Bhullar and Marcel Siem trimmed that to one on Friday morning.
Lipsky had started the day five shots off the lead but made birdies on the first, fifth, sixth and seventh to turn in 32 and get to eight under.
Both Bhullar and Siem had battled their way to excellent rounds of 66 in the tougher, windy afternoon conditions on Thursday and they too closed in on Warren, who was due to tee off at 12.50pm.
India's Bhullar started on the tenth and made birdies on the 15th and 17th in his first ten holes, while German Siem had gains on the first, fourth and 11th to go with a bogey on the second.
Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai was then at seven under and due out in the afternoon, a shot clear of Australian Sam Brazel and India's Anirban Lahiri.
Lahiri made four birdies and a bogey after starting on the tenth to turn in 33, while UBS Hong Kong Open champion Brazel was level for the day after 11 holes.
Danny Willett, Peter Uihlien and Arie Irarwan were all due out in the afternoon at six under, with Thai Prom Meesawat joining the group a shot further back as he picked up two shots in nine holes.
