Rashid Khan saw the silver lining even in a thunderstorm that blew away his overnight four-stroke lead and forced suspension of play during the third round of the $300,000 SAIL-SBI Open golf championship at the Delhi Golf Club course here on Friday.

The leading group could only complete seven holes during which Rashid dropped a shot on the fifth hole to slip to 13-under. Sri Lanka’s Mithun Perera birded thrice in eight holes to join the Indian in the lead. Both professionals are looking for their maiden Asian Tour title.

The third round will resume at 7.30 a.m. followed by the fourth round.

Should the rain stay away and the course is found playable on Saturday, Rashid will have to play 29 holes, one more than Perera. But Rashid was not complaining.

'I think the rain came at the right time. I was one-over and the day wasn’t going my way. A lot of play left tomorrow. I’m hoping for a good day.'

Perera, who birdied the first, second and sixth holes, was no less optimistic.

'I’m waiting to win a title on the Asian Tour. Hopefully, it will be tomorrow.'

Third round scores: -13 - Mithun Perera (Sri) through 8 holes, Rashid Khan through 7 holes; -12 - Anirban Lahiri through 8 holes, Siddikur Rahman (Ban) through 7 holes; -11 - Martin Rominger (Sui) through 8 holes; -10 - S.S.P Chowrasia through 9 holes; -9 - Shamim Khan through 9 holes, Scott Barr (Aus) through 9 holes; -8 – Rikard Karlberg (Swe) through 15 holes, Anura Rohana (Sri) through 12 holes, Javi Colomo (Esp) through 9 holes, Akinori Tani (Jpn) through 9 holes, Steve Lewton (Eng) through 9 holes and Unho Park (Aus) through 7 holes.