Spain took the lead in Saturday's third round of the team World Cup with Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez combining for an 11-under 61 to pull one shot ahead of England.

Playing before an enthusiastic home crowd on the palm-lined Real Club de Golf de Sevilla, Garcia put Spain into the lead on the 16th with a 5-foot (1.5 metre) eagle putt - his second eagle of the round. Spain finished 24-under par for three rounds.

The English pair of Luke Donald and Paul Casey, who began the round with a five-stroke lead over second-place Austria - and six ahead of a half dozen other teams including the Spanish - faded to a 68 in the day's fourball (better ball) format.

Sunday's final round will be the more difficult foursomes (alternate shot) format.

A handful of teams remained in contention behind the two leaders.

Four countries were just three shots off the lead - Ireland (64), the United States (64), Sweden (64) and defending champion South Africa (64). Japan (65) was four back with the Netherlands (63) and Australia (65) five behind. Austria was six behind after a 68.

"I really enjoy it when there is a big crowd following because I get a bit more into it," Garcia said. "I have a lot of people to make happy, to show what I can do."

"We have a lot of people we want to win for," he added. "Now we have a good chance."

Donald and Casey shot 64 playing foursomes (alternate shot) on Friday. A similar score would probably claim the US$1.4 million that is split between with winners.

"There were a few opportunities that just lipped out today, a couple of chips I hit lipped out," Donald said. "If those had gone in for either of us, it could have been a very satisfactory round."

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