Scotland's Catriona Matthew, who escaped a French hotel blaze last week, hit back-to-back eagles to share the lead at the halfway stage of the Women's British Open on Friday.

Matthew carded a second round 67 to top the leaderboard with Giulia Sergas, the California-based Italian who also shot five under in the breezy conditions to join the Scotswoman on three under par 141 for the tournament.

They led the final major of the women's season by a stroke from Yuko Mitsuka, who has had a brace of 71s on her first visit to Britain.

Matthew, playing in only her second tournament since the birth of second daughter Sophie in May, put together a brilliant second half run.

She sank a six footer for an eagle three at the long 11th and then had a hole in one with an eight iron at the 152-yard 12th.

The 39-year-old packed in birdies at the 13th, 14th, 16th and from ten feet at the last - she dropped her only shot at the 17th - for a stunning inward half of seven under par 30.

It was the lowest back nine score ever recorded in a Championship at the famous Open links here.

Matthew made her competitive comeback at last week's Evian Masters in France where she and husband Graeme, who is also her caddie, had a scare on the eve of the tournament when they had to run through flames to escape a fire at their hotel.

"Luckily, the girls weren't with us or it could have been even more serious," said Matthew.

"It was about 10.30 and I was in bed and my husband was out on the balcony. I thought the noise was rain, but he said 'no' and when I opened the door there were flames and smoke.

"It was very scary. We ran out and shouted ?fire, fire' and luckily no-one was seriously hurt, although Graeme did have to go to hospital with a burn on his foot."

Matthew went on to finish in the top 30 at Evian, and this week has proved she is ready to claim a fifth European Solheim Cup cap for the match against the USA in three weeks' time.

Matthew has a good track record in majors after childbirth.

When first child Katie was just three months old, she finished tied second in the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Sergas, chasing a first professional victory, also made her score over the downwind back nine.

She birdied the 11th and then had four in a row from the 13th to be home in 32.

"It was definitely playing easier today," said the 29-year-old, who lives in Palm Springs In California.

Sergas, ranked No.79 in the world, needs a good finish to have a chance of making her Solheim Cup debut with European captain Alison Nicholas set to name her team on Sunday.

"The Solheim has been a big motivation ever since I turned professional," said the Italian World Cup player.

"But all I can do is play my best and see what happens."

Meanwhile, American teenager Michelle Wie hit a second round 76 to be five over for the tournament, eight shots off the lead, while world number one Lorena Ochoa was eight over for the two rounds.