Chennai:
Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi recorded their 24th consecutive Davis Cup doubles win to keep India afloat in the World Group play-off tie against Brazil, reducing the margin of the tie to 1-2 here on Saturday.
The 'Indian Express' faced some stiff competition from the Brazilian pair before prevailing 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1 in two hours and 19 minutes in the doubles rubber.
The Indian pair saved four set points after trailing 1-4 in the tie-break of the second set to take a comfortable 2-0 lead before racing away for a win.
Paes, who completed 20 years in Davis Cup, served out the match for India.
India came to the doubles rubber after heart-breaking singles defeats of Rohan Bopanna and Somdev Devvarman, who lost close matches on Friday.
Now Bopanna and Somdev will have to win both the reverse singles Sunday's if India are to advance to the World Group.
Somdev will play the first reverse singles against world number 27 Thomaz Bellucci and Bopanna will take on 75th-ranked Ricardo Mello.
India had made the elite World Group after 11 years after beating South Africa in an away tie last year, but lost in the first round to Russia to be relegated to the play-off competition.
If the hosts players fail to win both the matches, India will be back to Asia/Oceania Zone Group I.
Brazil have not entered the World Group since 2003 and have failed to clear the play-off hurdle in the last few attempts.
Paes and Bhupathi, despite not playing together on the ATP circuit, were as good a force as they were before separating and were on top of their game on Saturday.
The Brazilians were a little slow off the blocks but gradually got their rhythm and played tough tennis barring the lop-sided third set.
Paes and Bhupathi remain unbeaten in the Davis Cup doubles rubbers since 1996 when they had lost to Jonas Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti in the World Group quarter-finals against Sweden.
Lee-Hesh began by breaking the Brazilians in the very first game of the match and were soon up 4-0 with a double break.
The Brazilians changed their tactics with Melo starting returning the serves to the feet of the Indians, creating three breakpoints.
The Indians saved two but could not save the game as Melo hit a backhand winner to earn the first break for his side.
Paes hit two stunning backhand winners in the ninth game to create another break chance but Melo staved off the threat by a strong serve.
The second set was a close affair with both the teams in full flow. The Indians were up to some good challenge from their rivals.
Melo, at six feet eight inches, was yet again successful in his strategy to land the service returns near the boots of Paes and created two break opportunities.
However, the experienced Indians escaped unscathed and saved to more set points on Bhupathi's serve in the 12th game to stretch the second set to tie-breaker.
A mini break of serve of Paes put the Brazilians 4-1 ahead but the 'Indian Express' refused to throw in the towel and made it 5-5.
Bhupathi sent a hot service-return off Melo on the set point which the Brazilian failed to handle, triggering a wild celebration by the Indian pair.
The chest-bump after winning that point reminded the Indian tennis fans of the strong chemistry the duo shared before choosing to play with different partners.
The third set became one-sided after Soares was broken in the second game. The visitors had lost it mentally and the Indian win was just a matter of time.