Pakistan Vs NewZealand Davis Cup

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Pakistan take 2-1 Davis Cup lead over New Zealand ​

HAWERA: Pakistan took a 2-1 lead in their Davis Cup tie against New Zealand on Saturday as they clinched the doubles match.

Pakistan’s Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan eased to a straight-set win over Michael Daniell and Michael Venus at the TSB Hub in Hawera, New Zealand.

The 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, 6-2 doubles victory over Marcus Daniell and Michael Venus came a day after Aisam spent more than four hours 30 minutes on court to beat Venus in a five-set singles match.

The final two matches of the five-match rubber will be played on Sunday.

New Zealand’s number one Rubin Statham, who sat out the doubles, beat Aqeel in straight sets in the singles and will play Aisam in the reverse singles while Aqeel will face Michael Venus in the reverse singles.

Aisam, a doubles quarter-finalist at Wimbledon this month, stepped up the pace of the doubles match after Pakistan were forced to a tie break in the first set.

The Pakistanis broke the New Zealanders’ serve twice in the second set before easily winning the third.

The winner of this tie will play either Indonesia or Thailand for a Group-I playoff position in September.

The Davis Cup tie is being played on indoor courts in the North Island town of Hawera after being shifted from Pakistan amid security concerns.

DAWN.COM | Sport | Pakistan take 2-1 Davis Cup lead over New Zealand