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Indonesia is a step closer to reaching the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II semifinals after taking a 2-0 lead over host Malaysia on Friday.

Malaysia employed a surprising tactic, opting not to play its top men’s singles player Adam Jaya in favor of non-ranked Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam.

The match was a walk in the park for Indonesia’s top player, Christopher Rungkat.

Christopher put pressure on Heshaam early and won the match 6-0, 6-1, 6-2, to give Indonesia its first point at the National Tennis Center in Kuala Lumpur.

Sunu Wahyu Trijati had a tougher match against Malaysian veteran Si Yew-Ming.

Sunu lost the first set, but managed to regain his composure to win the match 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-2 and deliver Indonesia the 2-0 lead.

“I was playing bad in the first set and making lots of unforced errors,” he said. “But, I managed to regain game control in the next sets and won the match.”

Christopher and Ketut Nesa Arta could clinch Indonesia’s victory and a place in the semifinals if they can win their match against Si and Adam on Saturday. In the reverse singles on Sunday, Christopher will meet Si, while Sunu takes on Adam.

Malaysia has never beaten Indonesia in three previous Davis Cup meetings, losing 5-0 in their most recent duel in 2006.

And the country would likely meet Thailand in the last four rounds as it also leads 2-0 over visitor Pacific Oceania.

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana defeated Michael Leong 7-5, 6-1, 6-3 in the first men’s single match and Kittiphong Wachiramanowong put the score at 2-0 with a 6-4, 6-1, 6-0 defeat over Cyril Jacobe at Nonthaburi.