Fiji in charge

England's Casey enjoyed an excellent day

Fiji are the surprise leaders after two rounds of the EMC World Cup in Mexico.

Vijay Singh and Dinesh Chand combined for a 62 to build a one-stroke lead over Canadians Mike Weir and Ian Leggatt and defending champions South Africa - Rory Sabbatini and Tim Clark.

Both England and Scotland are handily placed in the top eight after good second rounds, despite having to call up replacements.

With the second day played in the foursomes format, Justin Rose and Paul Casey, the stand-in for Nick Faldo, out-scored illustrious playing partners Phil Mickelson and David Toms.

Canada lead the way

The result was an excellent 63 which puts them in joint fifth place for the start of the third day.

Casey received his call-up when Faldo announced that he wanted to rest an elbow strain.

For Scotland, Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth - summoned last week when Andrew Oldcorn and Andrew Coltart pulled out - scored 65 and like Rose and Casey are at 16 under.

The Scots actually had every right to feel disappointed with that, having gone to the turn in a breathtaking 29 to lead the race for the million-dollar first prize at that point.

Ireland's Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington, winners in 1997, had a 67 to be joint 11th on 13 under with Welsh pair Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge, who shot 68.

Mickelson and Toms needed to come home in 31 for a 67 which left them joint 13th one shot further back.

Forsyth had put his clubs away for the winter but was contacted when Oldcorn withdrawn and first reserve Coltart stayed at home because his wife Emma was expecting their second child.

I'm not a million times better player than a year ago, but things have gone for me

Alastair Forsyth

And the 26-year-old from Paisley would not have been involved either if Colin Montgomerie had not decided three months ago to skip the tournament.

It ought to be remembered too that until he won the Malaysian Open in March Forsyth did not even hold a European tour card, having failed to come through the qualifying school last November.

"It's amazing the difference a year can make," he said.

"It's such a fine line between doing well and losing your card. I'm not a million times better player than a year ago, but things have gone for me."

Second round scores

Vijay Singh and Dinesh Chand, Fiji -19
Mike Weir and Ian Leggatt, Canada -18
Tim Clark and Rory Sabbatini, South Africa -18
Craig Parry and Adam Scott, Australia -17
Justin Rose and Paul Casey, England -16
K.J. Choi and S.K. Ho, South Korea -16
Paul Lawrie and Alastair Forsyth, Scotland -16
Shigeki Maruyama and Toshi Izawa, Japan -16
Stephen Ames and Robert Ames, Trinidad & Tobago -15
Andre Bossert and Marc Chatelain, Switzerland -14
Ian Woosnam and Bradley Dredge, Wales -13
Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, Ireland -13
Angel Cabrera and Eduaro Romero, Argentina -12
Kyi Hla Han and Soe Kyaw Naing, Myanmar -12
Phil Mickelson and David Toms, United States -12
Anders Hansen and Soren Hansen, Denmark -11
Carlos Larrain and Jaime Acevedo, Venezuela -11
Niclas Fasth and Carl Pettersson, Sweden -11
Thomas Levet and Raphael Jacquelin, France -11
Jesus Amaya and Rigoberto Velasquez, Colombia -10
Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat, Singapore -9
Alex Cejka and Sven Struver, Germany -8
Michael Campbell and Craig Perks, New Zealand -6
Esteban Toledo and Pablo Del Olmo, Mexico -4