LIVE BLOG: Text Commentary from day two of the British Gas Duel in the Pool in Manchester

By George Scott, Sportsbeat, in Manchester

HEAD TO HEAD: The USA will be looking to extend their already impressive lead at the British Gas Duel in the Pool (Getty Images)

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WORLD RECORDS SO FAR: 8 (Women's 4x100m IM relay, men's 4x100m IM relay, men's 100m backstroke, women's 400m IM, women's 200m breaststroke, women's 100m breaststroke, women's 200m IM, men's 4x100m freestyle relay)

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 78 - AMERICA 185

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16.30: And that, ladies and gentlemen, is that. You can't say it hasn't been exciting but the American team have walked this and all eight world records fell to their swimmers. 

Still, there have been some great European, and British, performances. 

Fran Halsall has been sensational, bagging three wins, while Lizzie Simmonds also stepped up to the mark with two victories. But what about Michael Rock? The local lad upset all the odds to rip 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps to shreds. That was, for me, the pinnacle of these two days in Manchester.

Thanks for joining me and see you next time!

16.26:  The American team have put on a real show to bring the Duel in the Pool to a close. They have smashed the relay world record! Hard luck on the European team, who also came within France's old mark of 3:04.98.

1. AMERICA - 3:03.30
2. EUROPE - 3:04.95 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 78 - AMERICA 185 

16.23: Great leg from America's Nathan Adrian who comes within a whisker of the 100m freestyle world record on the opening leg!

16.21: No Brits in this one. Nathan Adrian, Matt Grevers, Garrett Weber-Gale and Michael Phelps line-up for American. Christian Galenda, Marco Orsi, Benjamin Starke and Filippo Magnini will contest it for Europe.

16.18: Who's picking the team here? Simmonds is lightning quick with backstroke but shouldn't be anchoring a 4x100m freestyle relay. Still, she's had a superb weekend and can hold here head up high. Result below...

1. AMERICA - 3:28.89
2. EUROPE - 3:29.90

OVERALL SCORE:  EUROPE 78 - AMERICA 178

So it's a 100 point lead going into the final event, the men's 4x100m freestyle relay.

16.16: Lizzie Simmonds is a backstroke specialist and can't hang on in a freestyle relay - Dana Vollmer is pulling it back for USA!

16.15: This is going to be a close finish but Daniele Samulski is doing a great job on leg three and hands over to Lizzie Simmonds one length up!

16.14: Fran Halsall, already with three wins under her belt, gets the European team off to a great start on the first length. Nearly a length up at the change...

16.13:  BRIT WATCH: I said our Fran had a busy schedule here and I wasn’t wrong! The 19-year-old teams up with fellow Brit Lizzie Simmonds and the two Daniela’s – Schreiber and Samulski.

This women's 4x100m freestyle relay brings British participation to an end but our European team-mates will still try and steal some vital points off the Americans in the men's version. Remember seven points for the relay winner. 

16.12: James Goddard's win there was the eighth British win of the event. Not bad!

16.09:  James Goddard wins it with a new British record and duly gives his home crowd a victory salute. Stellar stuff from the Stockport Metro swimmer. Full results...

1. JAMES GODDARD (Europe) - 1:52.62
2. JACK BROWN (America) - 1:54.43
3. TYLER CLARY (America) - 1:54.82

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 78 - AMERICA 171 

16.08: GODDARD TURNS FIRST AT 150M!

16.07: Goddard is a backstroke specialist and is trying to open up a lead on that leg but Clary has other ideas. 

16.05: Italy's Fabio Scozzoli completes the European line-up while Tyler Clary, Alex Vanderkaay (again!) and Jack Brown line-up for our friends across the pond. There's some very vocal 'USA, USA. USA' chanting coming from the American swimmer watching on the sides!

16.04:  BRIT WATCH: Manchester has been kind to James Goddard, who won world short course bronze in this event here last year, and he's up in the men's 200m IM.

16.01:  That was a master class from Smit and she tops an American clean sweep with another world record (her second of the event)! Hard luck on Hannah Miley who came fourth. 

1. JULIA SMIT (America) - 2:04.60
2. ARIANA KUKORS (America) - 2:07.87
3. KATIE HOFF (America) - 2:08.37

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 73 - AMERICA 167 

15.58: America's Julia Smit is blowing the opposition out of the water...under world record pace. 

15.56:  BRIT WATCH: Hannah Miley claimed 200m IM bronze at the European Short Course Championships earlier this month so she should be in prime form for this one.

15.54: It's coming thick and fast! Results from the men's 50m freestyle...

1. NATHAN ADRIAN (America) - 20.71 (American record)
2. MATT GREVERS (America) - 20.93
3. MARCO ORSI (Europe) - 21.12

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE  73 - AMERICA 158

15.51: Fran Halsall is undoubtedly one to watch! She's got a superb future for Great Britain in the pool...

1. FRAN HALSALL (Europe) - 23.44
2. JESSICA HARDY (America) - 24.04
3. CHRISTINE MAGNUSON (America) - 24.05 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 72 - AMERICA 150

15.50: FRAN IS ON FIRE! That's here third win of the event. 50m freestyle is also exciting - particularly when our girl is at the front!

15.48:  BRIT WATCH: No time to enjoy that great result. Fran Halsall has had a frantic schedule in Manchester and she’s keeping it going in this 50m freestyle sprint spectacular!

15.46: Full results from that superb 200m fly...

1. MICHAEL ROCK (Europe) - 1:51.46
2. MICHAEL PHELPS (America) - 1:52.86
3. TYLER MCGILL (America) - 1:53.17

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 67 - AMERICA 146 

15.44: MICHAEL ROCK BLOWS 14-TIME OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS PHELPS OUT OF THE WATER! What a race from the Stockport Metro boy. Sensational swim - he won't forget that in a while. 

15.42: LOCAL BOY ROCK TURNS FIRST AT 200M! THEY'RE GOING WILD HERE!

15.40:  BRIT WATCH: Well it’s been a while since we’ve had one of our guys or girls in action but here comes Michael Rock in the men's 200m fly - going eyeball-to-eyeball with world and Olympic champion Michael Phelps.

Mary Mohler must enjoy coming to Manchester. She won world short course gold here last year. 

15.36: Annnnnnndddddddd...another American win with Mary Mohler leading from start to finish. Full results for the women's 200m fly...

1. MARY MOHLER (America) - 2:04.78
2. DANA VOLLMER (America) - 2:05.34
3. FRANCESCA SEGAT (Europe) - 2:05.53

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 62 - AMERICA 142

15.35: There a lot more American supporters in here today than there was last night - and they're making themselves heard! That's not to say the home crowd isn't giving it a fair go! In the pool, the women's 200m fly is off...

15.33: So that's the end of Europe's victory hopes although, to be honest, they were extinguished long ago. So what have you made of it all? How can the European team match America? Has it all been worth it? Let me know in the comments section below. 

15.29: And there it is! Mike Alexandrov hands America the overall victory! Good effort from Europe today with Lizzie Simmonds and Rebecca Adlington winning early on but there's still plenty of action to enjoy. 

1. MIKE ALEXANDROV (America) - 57.16
2. FABIO SCOZZOLI (Europe) - 57.47
3. KEVIN SWANDER (America) - 57.64

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 61 - AMERICA 134

15.27: The winning line is 132 points and this men's 100m breaststroke could see America cruise to overall victory...

15.25: Sensational from world champ Rebecca Soni - a new world record and the first lady in the world to go under 63 seconds! Bad news for us Europeans though as it's an American clean sweep. 

1. REBECCA SONI (America) - 1:02.70
2. JESSICA HARDY (America) - 1:04.71
3. KATY FREEMAN (America) - 1:05.13 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 58 - AMERICA 128

15.21: Time for a break for British fans...none of our girls in the women's 100m breaststroke. America's world champion Rebecca Soni will keep us entertained though!

15.19: Full results from the men's 100m backstroke...

1. MATT GREVERS (America) - 49.32
2. AARON PEIRSOL (America) - 51.25
3. LIAM TANCOCK (Europe) - 51.40  

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 58 - AMERICA 119

15.18: Gutting for America's Nick Thoman who breaks his own world record (set in last night's 4x100m medley relay) but is disqualified for a faulty turn! That bumps our Liam Tancock up to third. 

15.16:  BRIT WATCH: Here comes the golden boy of British swimming – Liam Tancock in the 100m backstroke! The Tank claimed 50m World Championship gold in the summer and is accompanied by Chris Walker-Hebborn over 100m in Manchester. 

Watch out for America's five-time Olympic gold medallist Aaron Peirsol (the man is Phelps' shadow)! And short course world record holder Nick Thoman. 

15.12:  Superb from Lizzie Simmonds! She completes the backstroke double with a dominant performance and touched over half a second in front of second place. Third for world champ Gemma Spofforth who's had a disappointing couple of days.

1. LIZZIE SIMMONDS (Europe) - 56.69
2. MARGARET HOELZER (America) - 57.35
3. GEMMA SPOFFORTH (Europe) - 57.62 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 57 - AMERICA 111 

15.09:  BRIT WATCH: A tale of two halves in this one. Gemma Spofforth was last in yesterday’s 200m backstroke but returns for her preferred distance, in which she claimed World Championships gold over the long course in Rome.

Lizzie Simmonds on the other hand was victorious yesterday and will be looking to do the double this time out!

15.07: Noworld records yet this afternoon but could that change in the women's 100m backstroke? Remember, have your say in the comments section below. 

15.05: Vanderkaay adds the 200m to the 400m he won yesterday. Phelps third! But not in a super-suit. He's made his opinion pretty clear on the suit controversy over the past few months and, if anything, is getting a head-start on everyone for 2010.  Robbie Renwick led early on but the paced proved too much and he finished fifth. 

1. PETER VANDERKAAY (America) - 1:42.17
2. BENJAMIN STARKE (Europe) - 1:42.86
3. MICHAEL PHELPS (America) - 1:43.08 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 51 - AMERICA 108 

15.04: America's Peter Vanderkaay leads at 350m!

15.02: BRIT WATCH: Robert Renwick finds himself lined up next to none other than 14-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps (and what a cheer he gets!) in the men's 200m freestyle. Best of luck Robbie!

14.58: Hard luck Fran! She misses out on a hat-trick of victories but still grabs a respectable third place and a British record. McClatchey was off the pace in fifth. 

1. ALLISON SCHMITT (America) - 1:51.67
2. DAGNY KNUTSON (America) - 1:53.59
3. FRAN HALSALL (Europe) - 1:53.79 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 48 - AMERICA 102

14.55:  BRIT WATCH: The Brits are coming thick and fast! Fran Halsall had a superb evening yesterday – winning both the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly – and goes again here in the women's 200m freestyle alongside Caitlin McClatchey.

14.54: Turns out Federico Colbertaldo speaks word perfect English - what a gent!

14.51: Sensational stuff from Federico Colbertaldo who destroys Paul Biedermann's European record. David Davies dropped to joint third but it's a British record, while Chad La Tourette breaks the American mark. 

1. FEDERICO COLBERTALDO (Europe) - 7:31.18
2. CHAD LA TOURETTE (America) - 7:33.94
3. DAVID DAVID (Europe) - 7:36.46
3. MICHAEL KLUEH (America) - 7:36.46 

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 46 - AMERICA 96 

14.49: This is superb from Colbertaldo who holds a two length lead through 700m...four lengths to go. Davies had completely blown up and is scrapping for third. 

14.47: Davies is struggling and is dropping back! Colbertaldo is fractionally ahead by anyone could win this!

14.45: David Davies is using all that long-distance experience and holds just under a second lead through 400m. Italian Federico Colbertaldo is the other European contender. 

14.41: No rest for the wicked...the men’s 800m freestyle is off!

 BRIT WATCH: Keep an eye on open-water specialist David Davies here. The Welshman – Olympic silver medallist over 10km – struggled in yesterday’s 400m.

14.39: Here's the result from that opening race. 

1.  REBECCA ADLINGTON (Europe) - 8:10.59 minutes
2.  KERI-ANNA PAYNE (Europe) - 8:17.61
3.  AMBER MCDERMOTT (America) - 8:21.82

4. JAZMIN CARLIN (Europe) 8:21.90

OVERALL SCORE: EUROPE 41 - AMERICA 90

14.37:  What a finish! Becky Adlington storms to gold while Keri-Ann Payne cruises to second but it was all about the race for third. Jaz Carlin was catching Amber McDermott with every stroke but the American held on by a whisker.

Much needed points for the European team!

14.34: Payne takes second place at 550m while Jaz Carlin could grab third here! McDermott went out far too hard to match Adlington, who is walking it! Clean sweep?

14.33: Adlington has really turned the screw and is two lengths up at 450m while Keri-Ann Payne has found a second wind and is catching McDermott...great race this!

14.32: Going through 300m our Adlington is JUST ahead of McDermott and is 0.31 inside Alessia Filippi's world record mark! Come on Becky!

14.29: They're off and golden girl Becky Adlington gets a huge cheer! America's sole contender Amber McDermott is just 16 years old. Interesting to note Adlington and Jaz Carlin are wearing next year's suits while McDermott's is 50 per cent polyurethane and Payne is donning a soon-to-be-ruled-out super-suit. 

14.27: BRIT WATCH: This is what we want to see! Rebecca Adlington, Jaz Carlin and Keri-Anne Payne are facing off against just one American, Amber McDermott. 

Surely we can look forward to seeing some big European points on the board here! 

14.24: The British Gas 'crowd-o-meter' has just registered the atmosphere here at 115db and the pool is open for action. Just a couple of minutes unti l the women's 800m freestyle. 

14.17: Plenty of Christmas tunes being blasted out of the speakers and it's snowing outside! It's like a sauna poolside though!

14.14: 15 minutes to go! Here's the running order for this afternoon's action...

Women's 800m freestyle
Men's 800m freestyle
Women's 200m freestyle
Men's 200m freestyle 
Women's 100m backstroke
Men's 100m backstroke
Women's 100m breaststroke
Men's 100m breaststroke
Women's 200m butterfly
Men's 200m butterfly
Women's 50m freestyle
Men's 50m freestyle
Women's 200m IM
Men's 200m IM
Women's 4x100m freestyle relay
Men's 4x100m freestyle relay 

14.03: The pool is closed so there's less than 30 minutes until we're off. In the mean time they're playing pass the parc el in the crowd!

13.51: The pool is full with both teams warming up and there's just under 40 minutes until we kick-off. 

13.49: The Manchester Aquatics Centre is starting to fill and we should have a 2000-strong sell-out crowd by the time the racing kicks off. In the mean time there's plenty of music blaring out of the sound system, dance-offs and air horns! You wouldn't find a spectacle like this at the World Championships or Olympic Games...

13.47: We had a frantic evening of action yesterday and five world records fell, can Saturday's s pectacular match it? The European team trail by 56 points and winning the event is out of the question but there's undoubtedly a lot of pride at stake!

Welcome back to the Manchester Aquatics Centre for the second and final day of the Duel in the Pool.