Jose "Rubin" Statham beat Thailand's Sanchai Ratiwatana in the fifth and deciding rubber in one hour and 52 minutes.
Ratiwatana, a doubles specialist, ranked 92 in the world for doubles, had the difficult task to play the final singles rubber when Weerapat Doakmaiklee was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Statham came out firing and won the first set 6-1. He then took the second set 6-4.
With only one set away from New Zealand being promoted, Statham was unstoppable. Getting a break early on in the third set, he was able to take out the set 6-3 to seal the victory.
Earlier in the day, fellow Kiwi Michael Venus (NZL) went down to Thailand's number one Kittiphong Wachiramanowong 5-7 6-7(6) 2-6
Final results:
New Zealand beat Thailand 3 - 2
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Nonthaburi, Bangkok, Thailand (hard - outdoors)
Singles:
Michael Venus (NZL) beat Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) 6-3 6-2 7-6 (1)
Jose "Rubin" Statham (NZL) beat Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-1 7-6(2)
Doubles:
Michael Venus/Daniel King-Turner (NZL) lost to Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana 6-0 7-6(6) 0-6 3-6 4-6
Reverse Singles:
Michael Venus (NZL) lost to Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) 5-7 6-7(6) 2-6
Jose 'Rubin' Statham (NZL) beat Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA) 6-1 6-4 6-3
