The two local girls  - Sally Watson and Krystle Caithness - had the home crowds roaring approval, but Great Britain and Ireland's hopes of victory began to fade as the sun set on the second day of the Curtis Cup at St Andrews.

In the afternoon fourballs, 16-year-old Sally, who has now won three points out of four, and Krystle, with a 100% record from two matches, did their best to halt the tide of US red with six birdies in a superb 3 and 2 win over Amanda Blumenherst and Meghan Bolger.

But, after the foursomes had been shared 1 1/2 points each, the Americans won the fourballs 2-1 to move into a 7 1/2 - 4 1/2 lead going into the final eight singles. The home side need six points to regain the Cup for a first time since 1996.

The last match on a day of glorious sunshine was a real cliff-hanger. England's Liz Bennett and Florentyna Parker were never behind until they lost the 16th to a par four. Irish-born American Alison Walshe and Stacy Lewis went on to win on the final green.

Sally had lost her 100% record when she went down 5 and 4 in the foursomes alongside fellow-Scot Michele Thomson, but she again hit top form with Krystle.

"We love playing together and we love winning," said the Elie and Earlsferry girl. "When I needed her, Krystle was there for me. And vice versa."

Krystle, a member of the home St Regulus Club, was just as happy. And no wonder. She holed massive birdie putts at the sixth, ninth and tenth. "I did hole some good ones, and Sally hit some great irons," said the 19-year-old. "At the first, she almost holed her approach."

Comrie's Carly Booth, who had been struck down with a mystery illness on the eve of the contest, got her first point in the foursomes. The youngest ever GB and I player at just 15, she teamed up with Wales' Breanne Loucks for a 3 and 2 win over Kimberly Kim and Jennie Lee.

In the final foursomes, the English pair of Bennett and Jodi Ewart claimed what could still turn out to be a vital half point.

Two down with five to play, they won three holes in a row, but lost the 17th after Bennett, at 25 the oldest player on show this weekend, carved her tee shot onto the roof of the Old Course Hotel.

But with the match all square playing the last, the Hampshire golfer made amends by holing a nasty six foot putt for a half in par fours.

"It was probably the greatest putt I've holed in my life," said the delighted Bennett. "But after I messed up at 17, I felt I had to do something. I didn't see it hit the roof, but it was a pretty terrible shot."

GB and I Captain Mary McKenna has not given up hope. "It was a little disappointing, but it is still there to be taken," she said. "I just hope that the wind blows a little tomorrow, and then anything can happen."

Results (GB and I first):
First day
Foursomes: GB and I 1 US 2 Liz Bennett and Jodi Ewart lost to Stacy Lewis and Alison Walshe 3 and 1; Sally Watson and Michele Thomson beat Mina Harigae and Jennie Lee one hole: Breanne Loucks and Florentyna Parker lost to Amanda Blumenherst and Tiffany Joh one hole.
Fourballs: GB and I 1 US 2 Carly Booth and Thomson lost to Kimberley Kim and Harigae 3 and 2: Watson and Krystle Caithness beat Joh and Meghan Bolger 3 and 2; Parker and Bennett lost to Blumenherst and Lewis 3 and 1
Overall score; GB and I 2 USA 4
Second day
Foursomes: GB and I 1 1/2 US 1 1/2 Booth and Loucks beat Kim and Lee 3 and 2; Watson and Thomson lost to Walshe and Lewis 5 and 4; Bennett and Ewart halved with Blumenherst and Joh
Overall score: GB and I 3 1/2 US 5 1/2
Fourballs: GB and I 1 US  2 Booth and Loucks lost to Kim and Harigae 2 and 1; Watson and Caithness beat Blumenherst and Bolger 3 and 2; Bennett and Parker lost to Walshe and Lewis one hole
Overall score: GB and I 4 1/2 - 7 1/2