Australia into first Davis Cup final in 19 years as Lleyton Hewitt’s team defeat Croatia

• Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell beat Olympic doubles champions
• The Australians will face either Canada or Italy in the final

Australia's tennis men have defied all the odds with a makeshift doubles pairing steering them to victory over Croatia and into their first Davis Cup final in 19 years on a nerve-shredding evening in Malaga.

After more heroics from Alex de Minaur had pulled Lleyton Hewitt's team back from the brink with his consummate tie-levelling singles win over Marin Cilic, Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell beat the Olympic doubles champions to seal Friday's exhilarating 2-1 semi-final win.