Kenya's tennis team stormed into the Davis Cup playoffs with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Algeria in their second pool B match at the Nairobi Club.
The victory means Kenya is just one win away from securing promotion to Group 2, with Friday's final preliminary match against Benin being a dead rubber.
However, a win will ensure the hosts secure top spot in the pool and face the runners-up of pool A in Saturday's promotional playoff.
Kevin Cheruiyot was up first in the opening rubber against Algeria's Youcef Rihane, but the North African took it 7-6(5), 3-6, 3-6, giving his team the lead.
Cheruiyot, currently ranked 2087 in the world, struggled with weak serves and backhand stabs in the second and third sets, unlike his easy win against Madagascar the previous day.
"The match was not what I expected it to be after my easy win yesterday, but it was a good challenge, knowing that my opponent was also a tough one," said Cheruiyot.
The pressure was on Kenya's top seed Ismail Changawa to put the hosts back in contention, and he did not disappoint, claiming a 6-4, 7-5 win against Mohamed Makhlouf.
With the game tied at 1-1, it was left to the doubles contest to decide the winner, and Kenya coach Rosemary Owino paired Changawa with Ibrahim Kibet instead of Albert Njogu, with the stakes high.
The doubles match proved to be a classic, with the four players playing their hearts out on centre court. After 2 hours and 24 minutes, the Kenyans emerged victorious, triumphing 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 against Nazim Makhlouf and Youcef Rihane.
