The Japanese star bucked the trend on Friday at the difficult DLF Golf and Country Club as he turned in 29 after making seven birdies and no bogeys on the front nine. 

He then mixed two birdies with three bogeys after the turn to sign for a 66 and sit alongside Spain's Chacarra on four under par. 

England's Matthew Jordan was in a five-way tie for third on two under after his 73. 

There were two holes-in-one as Joel Girrbach sank his tee-shot at the par-3 12th before Justin Harding got his ace at the 5th.

Among the Australian challenge, only Jason Scrivener, whose 77 left him at five over, and Daniel Gale, whose 74 put him on the cut line at six over, managed to make it to the weekend.