Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne struggle in blustery conditions to fall off the pace at the World Cup of Golf

Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne of Ireland talk on the 9th hole during day two of the 2018 World Cup of Golf at The Metropolitan on November 23, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

November 23 2018 09:10 AM

Belgium's Thomas Pieters and Thomas Detry overcame rain and gusty winds to take a joint lead with South Korea on day two of the World Cup of Golf.

The Belgian pair mastered the miserable conditions in the foursomes at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne to climb through the leaderboard with a one-under-par 71.

South Korea's An Byeong-hun and Kim Si-woo shot a 72 to finish level with the Belgians on 10-under par at the end of the second round.

England's Tyrrell Hatton and Ian Poulter finished with a two-over 74 as they slipped two places to tied third alongside Italy, India and Malaysia.

Hatton and Poulter struggled with the elements and carded four bogeys and two birdies having held a joint overnight lead with Australia and South Korea after an opening round 10-under 62.

Australians Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman also struggled with the conditions and are tied for eighth after a four-over 76.

Scotland's Russell Knox and Martin Laird took moved up 23 places into joint eighth after a one-under 71.

Italian pair Andrea Pavan and Renato Paratore finished one under to move up to joint third, while Mexico's Abraham Ancer and Roberto Diaz climbed 13 places to seventh after finishing two under in the best round of the day.

The Irish duo of Shane Lowry and Paul Dunne had been well placed in a tie for seventh and two shots off the lead going into the second round but they struggled in the conditions and yesterday's 64 was followed by a 76 today.

They have slipped into a tie for 13th and are six shots off the pace.