The China Mail - Fleetwood in tie for lead at halfway stage in Abu Dhabi

Fleetwood started his second round with three birdies in a row and carded seven in total, shooting a six-under 66 to climb to 14-under for the tournament.

The two-time former winner and reigning FedEx Cup champion began the day in a five-way share of the lead but soon hit the front after catching up with early starter Nacho Elvira.

Fleetwood's lone bogey came at the 15th but he gained that stroke back on the next hole with a putt from 12 feet.

"Really good day. I got off to the perfect start. Birdie, birdie, birdie," said Fleetwood.

"That was good, especially when you've had a good round the day before. They always say it's hard to follow up a good round with another good one, or a low one with another one."

Fleetwood is level with Rai, who delivered the highlight of the day with an albatross at the par-five second hole.

"I actually caught it a little bit clean off the face, the line was great. I think it probably pitched around the front edge and chased its way down there," said Rai, who holed out from around 220 yards.

"We couldn't see it from back on the fairway, so it was a nice surprise."

Rai carried that momentum through his round and added five birdies to sign for an eight-under 64.

"It was really good. Struck it really well tee-to-green. Had a lot of chances. Just felt very stress-free overall," he said.

Richard Sterne, Andy Sullivan and Nicolai Hojgaard are two shots behind at the head of the chasing pack.

Shane Lowry, who matched Ryder Cup team-mate Fleetwood on Thursday, dropped off the pace with back-to-back bogeys to close out round two as he recorded a three-under 69.

Rory McIlroy is six shots off the top as the Northern Irishman carded another four-under 68. Matt Fitzpatrick and Robert McIntyre are a further shot behind.

C.Mak--ThChM