Australia’s trump card Ashleigh Barty has delivered again, beating top-10 rival Aryna Sabalenka to put Australia ahead 2-1 in their Fed Cup semi-final against Belarus.

Barty, ranked ninth, absorbed the world No.10 Sabalenka’s best efforts before she cruised to a 6-2 6-2 win in Brisbane – a day after she toppled two-time Australian Open champion Victorian Azarenka as Australia hunt a first title since 1974.

Samantha Stosur, who lost a near three-hour tussle to Sabalenka on Saturday, will play Azerenka in the fourth rubber, with a doubles decider to split the countries if scores are locked at 2-2.