Ashleigh Barty has put Australia within sight of the Fed Cup World Group with an impressive win over Netherlands No.1 Lesley Kerkhove.

Barty defeated Kerkhove 6-4 6-2 in Sunday’s first reverse singles rubber to give Australia a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five-match indoor tie at the Wollongong Entertainment Centre.

Daria Gavrilova can secure Australia’s return to the eight-nation World Group in 2019 with victory over world No.295 Quirine Lemoine in Sunday’s second singles match.