Tennis: Murray and Fleming poised to rescue GB Davis Cup bid

Jamie Murray and Colin Fleming will aim to give Great Britain the lead for the first time in their Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group II tie against minnows Tunisia at Bolton Arena later today.

After a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 defeat for Jamie Baker at the hands of Tunisian No 1 Malek Jaziri first up yesterday, James Ward squared matters by thrashing Sami Ghorbel for the loss of only two games, leaving the tie nicely poised ahead of today's doubles rubber.

Victory for Jaziri, who is ranked 81 places higher than Baker at 325 in the world, was essential if Tunisia were to have any hope of following in Lithuania's footsteps and handing Britain a humiliating defeat.

After losing a tight first set, the 27-year-old gradually took control, troubling Baker with his greater weight of shot, particularly off the forehand wing Even when Jaziri began to struggle with cramp in the fourth set, the Tunisian kept his head, taking his chances impressively.

His physical problems - which were compounded by the Tunisian team's lack of a physio, meaning captain Abdel-Majid Soudani had to massage his player - do not bode well given Jaziri is scheduled to play on all three days of the tie.

With Murray and Fleming both ranked inside the world's top 100 in doubles, the hosts are hot favourites to move 2-1 ahead, meaning Ward should have the chance to wrap up the tie when he meets Jaziri in tomorrow's first singles rubber.

Ward, who was in a different class to US college student Ghorbel during his 6-0, 6-2, 6-0 victory yesterday, talked up his chances against Jaziri, saying: "I watched most of the match and I've seen where I think he's a bit weaker so hopefully I can expose that when I play him."