Finch had moved two strokes clear at the top after completing his round with the rest of the chasing pack not teeing off until the afternoon.

The 30-year-old from Hull started with a bogey on the first but picked up three successive birdies from the fifth.

He added another birdie on the par-five 10th and then birdied the 13th after splashing out of a greenside bunker to within two feet of the hole.

“There is a long way to go, it is half-time if you like,” said Finch, who won his first European Tour event in New Zealand last year. “A lot of things can happen.”

Joost Luiten of the Netherlands was keeping close attention at the top and was six under overall through eight, one stroke behind the leaders.

The 21-year-old carded birdies on the second and par-three sixth.

Overnight leader Michael Lorenzo-Vera and English duo Simon Griffiths and Zane Scotland were on five under midway through their second rounds.

Defending champion Markus Brier improved on his opening round to move onto four under overall.

The Austrian followed up yesterday’s one-under-par 71 with a 69 today, carding four birdies and one bogey.

“It was obviously a bit easier today and not as windy,” said Brier.

“I am a step further than my last defence and have made the cut at least and I am really up there at the moment.”

David Howell, hoping to recover after his final-hole nightmare yesterday, was one under after carding four birdies and three bogeys through 12.

Graeme McDowell, looking to follow up his victory at the Ballantines Championship in South Korea last month, endured another disappointing round today.

The Northern Irishman carded a double bogey on the par-four 15th and though he did manage to make four birdies, bogeys on the 12th and fifth meant he finished even par for the day and is one over overall.