Asia's bid for a first victory in the Royal Trophy was on track after the hosts took a 3-1 advantage over Europe after the opening foursomes.
Europe were twice ahead in all four matches early on but blustery conditions hampered their progress on a topsy-turvy opening day at the pristine Amata Spring Country Club near Bangkok.
Asia bounced back to lead in three matches around the turn and consolidated their position on the inward nine as they took the ascendancy in their attempt to derail Europe's bid for a third successive title.
Scotland's Paul Lawrie and Denmark's Soren Hansen defeated Japanese duo Ryo Ishikawa and Toru Taniguchi 2&1 in the front group before Thai pair Thongchai Jaidee and Prayad Marksaeng wrapped up a comfortable 5&4 triumph over Niclas Fasth and Johan Edfors to draw the tournament level.
China's Liang Wen-chong and South Korea's Charlie Wi won the last three holes to finish two up against Paul McGinley and Spain's Pablo Larrazabal - the Irishman's first loss in three appearances in the event.
Englishmen Oliver Wilson and Nick Dougherty then stumbled at the last as Hideto Tanihara and SK Ho secured a two-point advantage for Asia going into the fourballs.
Lawrie believes remaining patient was the key to the triumph in the leading match.
The Scot and partner Hansen were ahead for much of the outward nine but Ishikawa and Taniguchi hit birdies on holes nine and 10 and remained one up until the 14th.
A bogey by the Asian pair drew the contest level before successive birdies put Europe two up with two to play.
"We've both played Ryder Cup and you learn to expect the unexpected," said Lawrie, who played in the 1999 Ryder Cup in Brookline and is making his debut in the Royal Trophy a decade on.
"They holed a few big, big putts just to stay one up, but you expect that in these types of team matches.
"You've just got to keep going and keep grinding away and hope for a break.
"Sixteen was a big hole for us. I decided to knock it down there and Soren hit a beautiful chip into the green - much the same as he had on 15 - and I managed to roll the putt in."
Buoyed by a partisan support, Thongchai and Prayad made five birdies in the opening eight holes to leave their Swedish opponents in their wake.
Fasth and Edfors could not recover and conceded holes 11 and 13 before a further European bogey ensured the Thai duo would level the tournament.
"We were slow starting as every match we were down but we came back," Thongchai said.
"After turning the front nine leading by two holes we were confident.
"We had a good partnership going and it was a good win."
McGinley and Larrazabal led from hole three to hole 11 before dropping back to all-square on 12.
They went one up on the next hole but Wi and Liang made a birdie three on hole 16 and Europe bogeyed the par-three 17th to fall behind at the last.
McGinley and Larrazabal then endured a disastrous closing hole as the tried in vain to win half a point.
The Irishman's tee shot found the water on the left before the Spaniard found a bunker with Europe's third shot.
McGinley played out on to the fairway and Larrazabal's second effort - Europe's fifth - found the cart path.
Wi and Liang progressed untroubled and the European pair eventually conceded defeat.
Tanihara and Ho overturned an early deficit to take a one-stroke lead at the turn over Wilson and Dougherty.
The lead was extended to two on the 13th, but Dougherty's tee shot set up a birdie two on the par-three 14th and Europe won the 15th with a par to square the contest.
The match remained level going down the 18th but Wilson and Dougherty lost the hole and the match as Asia took the honours on the opening day.
Collated day one scores (Team Europe names first):
Foursomes:
Soren Hansen & Paul Lawrie bt Ryo Ishikawa & Toru Taniguchi 2 and 1
Paul McGinley & Pablo Larrazabal lost to Charlie Wi & Wen-chong Liang 2 down
Oliver Wilson & Nick Dougherty lost to S K Ho & Hideto Tanihara 1 down
Niclas Fasth & Johan Edfors lost to Thongchai Jaidee & Prayad Marksaeng 5 and 4
Asia lead Europe 3-1
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