Graeme McDowell came from one down three times to be on level terms with Nicolas Colsaerts halfway through their Volvo World Match Play final.

Belgian Colsaerts, who had recovered from four down to beat Scot Paul Lawrie at the second extra hole in the morning semi-finals, won the third, sixth and eighth holes, but lost the next one each time.

Worse of all was the ninth. Northern Irishman McDowell duffed his approach there, but his opponent did the same and bogeyed.

The final had been delayed nearly an hour because of a thunderstorm during the morning's play, after which McDowell had to go to the last to beat Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello.

McDowell hit his second into the bushes on the long 11th as the wind gusts went over 30mph, but after losing it to a par five it looked as if he would draw

level instantly again.

However, he missed from three feet for a half in bogey fours.

For the first time the gap went to two, McDowell hitting what looked

dangerously like a shank on the 13th and bogeying again.

Colsaerts missed a chance on the 15th, three-putting for only a half, but

McDowell bogeyed the next to be two down again and now with only two to play. He threw his wood down in disgust after missing the green.

Colsaerts had a four-foot putt for the match on the 17th, but missed to take

the game up the last.