Murray brothers claim vital win to give Britain 2-1 lead in Davis Cup final

A match played out in an electrifying atmosphere ebbed and flowed before the Murrays carved out a 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory to put Britain 2-1 ahead.

World number two Andy Murray, who was inspirational again as he has been throughout Britain's run to a first final since 1978, can deliver the winning point in Sunday's first reverse singles against Belgium's top player Goffin.

The tie was level at 1-1 after Goffin had recovered from trailing 2-0 to complete a 3-6 1-6 6-2 6-1 6-0 win over Kyle Edmund in the opening rubber before Andy Murray levelled the final courtesy of 6-3 6-2 7-5 win over Ruben Bemelmans later on Friday.

[STORY: Imperious Murray levels final for GB with comfortable win]

[STORY: Goffin roars back against Edmund to give Belgium 1-0 lead]

Goffin had won only two ATP doubles matches in his career but buoyed by overcoming Edmund in five sets on Friday’s opening singles, he got to grips with the Murray brothers.

Darcis was also serving well as Belgium put up plenty of resistance in a rubber they were expected to lose but, after a nervy hold to make it 5-4, the British pair broke Belgium at the most crucial moment, winning on Goffin’s serve to take the first set.

It was Andy Murray who clinched the set with some superb net play and he celebrated wildly as he made his way back to his chair for talks with captain Leon Smith.

The crowd in Ghent were being treated to some brilliant rallies in a finely-matched encounter and Belgium hit back in the third game of the second set after Jamie Murray produced a double fault at deuce.

Having halted the British momentum, the Belgians were now in the ascendancy and, with Goffin growing into his role as team leader, they consolidated their break, and while the Brit pair did manage to carve out one break back opportunity – in the sixth game – the home favourites fended it off.

And, when the opportunity came to serve it out, Darcis held to love.

The third set began with a flurry of breaks as Jamie Murray was broken in the second game as the Belgians took the lead for the first time in the match. However, the Murray brothers went after the serve of Darcis in the very next game, and, in doing so, nullified the hitherto growing influence of Goffin.

The Brits held and then broke to open up a two-game advantage at 4-2 but the topsy-turvy nature of the third set continued as Darcis and Goffin managed to secure a break back on Jamie Murray’s serve. However, the Brits replied in kind before Andy Murray served it out to secure the third set.

Darcis’ level lulled toward the end of set three and the Brits capitalised on some sloppy play to break his serve in game three of the fourth set, and when the home pair were broken again in seventh game it was a matter of when rather then if the British pair secured the vital doubles rubber to move them to within one match of a first Davis Cup triumph for 79 years.

Andy Murray has now been involved in 10 of Britain's 11 winning points this year and needs one final push on Sunday to end his country's long wait for a 10th title.