CAIRO: Viraj Madappa and SSP Chawrasia were among five Indians who made the 36-hole cut at the USD 1.5 million International Series Egypt here.
Madappa (67-70) and Chawrasia (68-69) were the best Indians at tied 30th.
The others to make the cut where Ajeetesh Sandhu (70-69) and S Chikkarangappa (70-69), who were tied 46th, and Gaganjeet Bhullar (71-69) who was tied 61st.
Karandeep Kochhar (73-68), Saptak Talwar (73-68), Veer Ahlawat (69-72), Honey Baisoya (70-72) and Aman Raj (72-71) missed the cut, which fell at even par.
Chawrasia, starting on the 10th, had just one birdie on the 18th and 17 pars, while Madappa had two birdies and two bogeys.
Sandhu at 2-over with three holes left looked like he might miss the cut but then birdied his last three holes from seventh to ninth to ensure weekend action.
Bhullar, on the other, was well-placed but bogeys on fourth and eighth on his second nine made it tense for him but he made the cut on the line.
Canadian Richard T. Lee moved into the lead on day two, bidding to make amends for letting victory slip from his grasp last Sunday.
He shot a five-under-par 65 at Madinaty Golf Club to go to 11 under for 36 holes. He leads by one from American Andy Ogletree, who carded a 64.
American Sihwan Kim is a shot further back following a 66 at the Asian Tour's first-ever visit to Egypt.
Two-time Japan Tour winner Jinichiro Kozuma is tied with Kim after shooting 64.
Overnight leader Scott Hend from Australia had a disappointing day, shooting a 74 to sit seven off the pace.
Americans Jarin Todd (66) and Trevor Simsby (67), Australia's Travis Smyth (67) and South African Jaco Ahlers (68) are three off the lead.
