Australians Nikki Campbell and Sarah Kemp are both inside the top 20 heading into the final round of the Hero Women’s Indian Open being played at Delhi Golf Club.

Campbell followed up her opening round of 76 with a two-under-par 70 on another scorching day in the Indian capital to move to two-over-par and into a share of 16th position. One of the players sharing 16th place is fellow Australian Sarah Kemp. Kemp has carded rounds of 71 and 75.

The pair will be chasing Thailand’s Thidapa Sunawannapura who has a one stroke lead heading into the final round.

A second-round 74 was enough for the 21-year-old Ladies Asian Golf Tour member to end the day four-under-par ahead of first round co-leader Valentine Derrey of France and Charley Hull from England.

Thailand’s Saraporn Chamchoi and amateur Gauri Monga of India were two shots further behind.

Although Sunawannapura still holds the advantage, she felt that it was the result of good fortune as on the 13th hole she made a ‘lucky’ bogey. After driving into the bushes, the ball bounced two yards clear allowing a clear passage to the green - and despite hitting her second shot just two yards further - she played four to the front of the green and chipped in for a five. It was one of four bogeys on her card, against two birdies.

Suwannapura won the Vidalia Tour Championship on the US Symetra Tour in 2012 and ended 73rd on the LPGA money list this year, but would rate winning the Hero Women’s Indian Open, which is tri-sanctioned by the LAGT, Ladies European Tour and Women’s Golf Association of India, as her career-best achievement.

On being in contention, she said: “It’s exciting! You cannot expect anything on this course. What’s going to happen is going to happen.”

England’s Hannah Burke and Hannah Jun of the USA are just four shots from the lead in a share of sixth going into the final day, with eight further players a stroke back on one-over-par.

The cut mark, which fell at nine-over-par, was one of the highest recorded on the LET, demonstrating the demanding nature of the course with its tight, tree-lined fairways. Unfortunately for Australians Bree Arthur (+10) and Alison Whitaker (+11) they missed the cut.