Johanna Konta and Heather Watson came from a set down in the final-match decider as Great Britain kept alive their Fed Cup promotion hopes with a dramatic play-off victory against Croatia.

The British pair recorded a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 success against Ana Konjuh and Donna Vekic in the doubles in Tallinn, after a surprise defeat for Konta left the teams level after the singles matches.

Victory means Anne Keothavong’s team progress to a further play-off in April, which could result in them reaching the competition’s second tier – World Group II – for the first time in almost a quarter of a century.

It’s been a real emotional rollercoaster, but the way the girls performed today and throughout the whole week, I’m just so proud of them. Anne Keothavong, Great Britain captain

Britain had the perfect start on Saturday and looked like they might wrap up the contest in the singles when Watson began by comfortably defeating Vekic 6-2, 6-4. But the world No10 Konta, ranked 27 places higher than her opponent, was beaten 4-6, 3-6 by the talented 19-year-old Konjuh to send the tie into a winner-takes-all doubles rubber.

Konta and Watson endured an awful start to the final match, as the Croatians secured a double break to lead 3-0 and, despite some resistance, they eventually lost the first set 6-4.

The Australian Open quarter-finalist Konta received treatment to her left ankle early in the second set, but she shrugged off the minor problem to help restore parity and force a deciding set.

Konta dropped the opening service game of the third, double-faulting to give the Croatians an early advantage, but the next three games also went against the serve to leave it tied at 2-2 with the tension mounting.

The British duo finally put daylight between themselves and their opponents to wrap up victory and continue their quest to gain promotion from Euro/Africa Zone Group I.

Keothavong, the team captain, was delighted with the battling win. “I’m absolutely ecstatic,” she told lta.org.uk. “It’s been a real emotional rollercoaster, but the way the girls performed today and throughout the whole week, I’m just so proud of them. It wasn’t easy today against Croatia, with it coming down to the deciding doubles. It was so tight, everyone was on the edge of their seats. But they fought their hearts out and played with so much passion out there. I’m so proud of them.”