Els reels in Fisher

Ross Fisher's lead at the top of the Dubai Desert Classic leaderboard was cut to two strokes after another fine display from a determined Ernie Els.

The South African, chasing a fourth title here, moved to 12 under after carding four birdies on the front nine and then adding an eagle on the par-five 13th before play was ended due to failing light.

Earlier in the afternoon, the players had to leave the course for two-and-a-quarter hours after thunder and lightning broke out above the Majilis Course at 2:25pm local time. Els will resume tomorrow morning on the 15th.

Ascot man Fisher had stormed four shots clear at the top earlier in the day as he proved Thursday's seven-under-par 65 was not a one-off, carding the same score again today.

He shot eight birdies and one bogey and will take some catching if he carries his current form into the weekend.

Defending champion Tiger Woods improved slightly on yesterday's 68 to card a five-under-par 67 and remain firmly in contention.

The world number one made a solid start as he shot three successive birdies from the 13th, his fourth, before adding another on the 18th.

But he struggled to pick up shots coming home and carded just one more birdie on the eighth while making par on the rest to finish nine under.

Henrik Stenson enjoyed a good round to move to 10 under as the Swede shot birdies on the second, fourth and fifth and then added another three on the back nine and has three holes left to play.

Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and Swede Peter Hanson are also on 10 under .

McDowell carded an eagle on the 13th and added five birdies in an otherwise faultless round while Hanson carded a seven-under-par 65.

Colin Montgomerie fared much better on the course today after a disappointing one-over-par finish in the first round.

He carded five birdies on the front nine and then added another on the par-three 15th and is five under with three holes remaining.

Paul Casey finished six under after an improved second-round display in which he carded six birdies and just two bogeys.

He is joined by Darren Clarke who recovered from a slow start. The Ryder Cup star made par on his first seven holes before making a birdie on the par-five 18th, his ninth.

He then added two more birdies coming home before dropping a shot on the par-four sixth.

However, David Howell looks set to miss the cut after carding three bogeys and just one birdie and is one-over-par with four holes remaining

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano shot a hole-in-one on the par-three fourth and is four under as is Notah Begay III after the American carded four birdies and one bogey on the way to a three-under 69.