Hosts India fought off a spirited challenge from Taiwan to grab an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group one tie in Indore on Saturday.
Somdev Devvarman wrapped up the marathon second singles against Chen Ti of Taiwan that had been stopped due to bad light on Friday with the scores level at 7-7 in the fifth set.
Devvarman held his service game and then broke Chen in the next to win 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-2 9-7 after an attritional battle that lasted more than four hours.
The 103rd-ranked Indian, who was expected to ease past No.284 Chen, had wasted four match points in the decider on Friday evening, but played aggressive tennis when it mattered to win.
"Five-setters are never easy, so it was nice to get out of this one," Devvarman said. "I attacked and went after his serve today which paid off in the end."
India's new doubles team of Rohan Bopanna and debutant Saketh Myneni were stretched by the Taiwanese pair of Lee Hsin-Han and Peng Hsien-Yin before winning 6-0 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-2) later on Saturday.
Yuki Bhambri had given India the lead in Friday's opening singles when he overcame an ankle injury in the third set to beat Yang Tsung-Hua 6-2 6-4 6-7 (1-7) 6-3.
The inconsequential reverse singles will be played on Sunday.
India, led by their newly appointed non-playing captain Anand Amritraj, are without two long-time regulars as Leander Paes opted out of Davis Cup duty for the the entire year and Mahesh Bhupathi was dropped.
India next play South Korea in April for a place in the World Group play-offs.
