Sport360’s Joy Chakravarty looks back at an action-packed second day at the Dubai Desert Classic as defending champion Rory Mcilroy avoids the cut with a late flourish while 2012 champion Rafael Cabrera-Bello (-10) leads by one shot heading into day three.

Meanwhile, record three-time champion Ernie Els rolled back the years with some vintage golf on one of his favourite courses to shoot nine under par, one shot back from Cabrera-Bello, and level with compatriot Trevor Fisher Jnr and England’s Danny Willett.

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Andy Sullivan, Chris Wood, Joost Luiten and Thorbjorn Olesen were a shot further back on eight under, Olesen carding a flawless 64 – the lowest score of the week – and Sullivan a 66 to continue his brilliant recovery after starting his first round with a double-bogey seven.

It is set-up for an intriguing final two days play as Mcilroy looks to claw back a six-shot deficit.