LAHORE, March 5: Pakistan achieved the vital 2-1 lead against Thailand in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania zone Group-I tie by winning the crucial doubles at the Cosmopolitan Club grass courts on Saturday.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan excelled to dispose off the stiff challenge of Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchok 3-1 (6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (3).

Considering the doubles as a do-or-die, both the teams fielded same players who had played in the singles on Friday.

The Pakistani pair had already been announced. Paradorn had also hinted his chances to play the doubles after beating Aqeel in the second singles, but it was a surprise when Danai, who had lost the singles to Aisam, was also retained for the doubles, in place of the regular pair of twins Sonchat Ratiwatana and Sanchai.

Non-playing captain of the Thailand team Chanachai Srichaphan did not agreed that he changed the pair having no confidence on the regular pair.

"No, it is not correct, both Sanchai and Sonchat are suffering from fever while Paradorn was also had chest infection and cough problem," Chanachai, father of Paradorn said. But he still had faith in his team of achieving victory.

"Yes, we have 50-50 chances for victory though the task is tough one," the non-playing captain said. He said that besides the fitness problems, the disadvantage of the grass court to his team was going against them.

Aisam said that though Paradorn and Danai were a seasoned players they were not used of playing in doubles and that favoured Pakistan.

"I have better coordination and understanding with Aqeel and finally we achieved what Pakistan needed," he said.

Aisam, who suffered with muscles cramp after winning the first singles said that he quite fit and all credit goes to team doctor Dr Meesaq Rizvi.

Aqeel said that Pakistan had consolidated the position in the tie but he could not say that the mission was over. "They have strong individual players and we have to do more hard work", he said.

Pakistan also dominated by hitting 14 aces and double faulted twice as Thailand's six aces and the same number of foot faults.

Levelling the score till three-all in the first set, Pakistan, who had missed a chance of breaking Paradorn serve in the fifth game after three deuces, finally managed to break the Danai's serve in the seventh game and Pakistan eventually wrapped up the first set in 45 minutes.

Thailand, however, fought back to level the scores winning the second 7-5 not before the home pair had chances of taking 2-0 lead.

The second set seemed to exhaust the visitors as Aisma and Aqeel changed gears to take the next two sets comfortably without much resistances.

The home pair was in haste to win the third set in only 25 minutes. They broke Danai's serve in the third game and again in the seventh to edge past the Thai pair to take 2-1 lead in the match. Holding serves till 5-5 in the fourth set, Pakistan looked a certain winner when Danai's serve was again broken in the 11th games which gave 6-5 lead.

Aisam had to hold his serve in the next to give Pakistan the much needed win but surprisingly dropped his serve to take the set into tie-breaker. Pakistan pair chastened by missing the opportunity to wrap up the set and match made no mistake in the tie break to give the home team a great chance of winning the tie.

Results: Aisamul Haq Qureshi-Aqeel Khan bt Paradorn Srichaphan-Danai Udomchok (Thai) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (3).