Black Caps on the Brink

New Zealand will head into the final day of their one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hamilton in the driving seat.

After declaring their second innings on 258 for five for a lead of 403 runs, the Black Caps ripped through the Bangladesh top order to leave the tourists facing the task of chasing 316 runs with just five wickets in hand.

Bangladesh began their chase in aggressive fashion with Tamim Iqbal flashing his blade from the off and regularly finding the boundary in his quickfire 30 from 19 balls.

But Daniel Vettori (two for 23) made the telling breakthrough in his first over and, after being smacked for six, he got the Bangladesh opener to sky the next delivery to long-off, where Daryl Tuffey took a good catch running back.

Junaid Siddique's dismissal for eight was a bizarre one as Chris Martin's delivery flew up in the air off the batsman's gloves and landed on top of the stumps, dislodging the bails.

Aftab Ahmed (eight) was the instigator of his own downfall, going for a single that was never on and being unable to get back before Jeetan Patel got the direct hit.

Mohammad Ashraful's disappointing tour continued when he was trapped leg before wicket by Vettori for two to leave Bangladesh reeling at 78 for four. That quickly became 78 for five as Imrul Kayes inexplicably offered no shot and was bowled by Patel for 29.

That left Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan with the ominous task of trying to repair the damage after they dug deep to get the visitors to 88 for five by stumps.

After the intensity of day three when Mahmudullah (115) and Shakib (87) hauled Bangladesh back from the brink with a 145-run stand to help the visitors to 408 in their first innings, day four meandered somewhat before Vettori brought an end to his side's second innings.

Tim McIntosh top-scored for the hosts with 89 before becoming the third player to be run out following BJ Watling's dismissal the previous night and that of Peter Ingram (13) in the morning session.

Martin Guptill very nearly became run-out victim number four but was given a reprieve one run shy of his second half-century when replays were inconclusive.

He finished with an unbeaten 56, while Brendon McCullum was 18 not out when Vettori called the pair in.