8:21 AM Monday Mar 8, 2010

New Zealand began the long trek back to top-level Asia-Oceania tennis with a 3-2 Davis Cup group two win over Sri Lanka in Colombo this weekend.

The New Zealanders won the opening singles matches, Rubin Statham grinding out a gruelling five-set win over Harshana Godamanna and Daniel King-Turner accounting for Rajeev Rajapakse in four.

However, Godamanna and Rajapakse had little difficulty in taking the doubles over Davis Cup debutant Marcus Daniell and King-Turner, winning 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3.

Body cramps hit King-Turner after being on court for nearly five hours in his reverse singles match against Godamanna, and he was forced to retire at 0-3 down in the fifth set. King-Turner was hospitalised for four hours, suffering from dehydration.

However, Statham had little difficulty in wrapping up the rubber with a 6-1 6-0 7-5 win over Rajapakse in two hours straight.

New Zealand now face Pakistan, who beat Hong Kong in the second round, at a venue yet to be decided.