By IANS
Bangkok : India continued their miserable run at the Fed Cup tennis as they registered their second successive defeat, losing to New Zealand 1-2 at the National Development Centre here Thursday.
Isha Lakhani, who replaced Wednesday’s lone winner against Indonesia, Shikha Uberoi, started the tie on a winning note for India as she fought hard to scalp Sacha Jones 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-4 in the Asia-Oceania Group I tie.
In the second rubber, Sunitha Rao squandered the advantage and allowed the Kiwis to level the scores and take the match into the deciding doubles encounter. She was handed a 0-6, 6-7 (7-5) defeat by Marina Erakovic.
However, Shikha who did not feature in the singles tie against New Zealand Thursday as she was down with cramps, teamed up with Lakahni for the doubles only to see the same old story being repeated.
The combination of Leanne Baker and Erakovic thrashed the challenge of Lakhani and Shikha 6-2, 6-2 to seal the tie in favour of the Kiwis.
Morally down after two consecutive defeats, India now have an uphill task as they will be up against mighty Australia in their third and final tie Friday.
Earlier in the day, Australia suffered a shock 1-2 loss to Indonesia. Indonesia took an unassailable lead in the tie when they pocketed both the singles tie.
Seventeen-year-old Jessica Moore, who replaced an injured Alicia Molik, lost to Ayu Fani Damayanti 3-6, 4-6 and Sandy Gumulya defeated Casey Dellacqua in a tight two-setter 6-7, 6-7.
However, Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs brought one back for Australia as they defeated Lavinia Tananta and Vivien Silfany 6-2, 6-1 in the doubles rubber.