Bangladesh had New Zealand on the ropes and were eyeing a historic victory after ripping through the hosts' top-order batsmen on the penultimate day of the first Test on Tuesday.

Bangladesh have never before tasted success in New Zealand, losing all 33 matches played across three formats, including nine Tests.

But the odds of a maiden victory rose as they reduced New Zealand to 147 for five at stumps at Mount Maunganui, with Ebadot Hossain at one stage taking three wickets for no runs in eight balls.

Ebadot has four for 39 from 17 overs.

New Zealand have a small 17-run lead, but with their top three scorers from the first innings, Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls and Will Young all dismissed.

Captain Tom Latham and Tom Blundell have also been removed, leaving Ross Taylor unbeaten on 37 with Rachin Ravindra on six.

There did not appear to be any demons in the pitch, which is unlike a typical New Zealand Test surface, lacking an emerald green cover and it was showing little sign of wear after four days.

When Bangladesh were all out for 458, a 130-run lead on the fourth morning, Latham and Young confidently took New Zealand to lunch at 10 without loss. 

But when play resumed, Latham (14) chopped Taskin Ahmed on to his stumps and Conway (13) edged Ebadot on to his pads and the ball ballooned to Shadman Islam, who took the catch.

Young and Taylor mounted a rescue mission but when their 73-run stand ended, with Young out for 69, Nicholls and Blundell quickly followed without bothering the scoreboard.

If Bangladesh had a problem, it was with their fielding.

Liton Das dropped a regulation chance from Young early in his innings and Taylor also had lives.

Shadman spilled a straightforward offering from Taylor off Mehidy Hasan, and there was a run-out opportunity where Bangladesh originally threw the ball to the wrong end, and Taylor was still out of his crease when the throw went to the right end -- but missed the stumps.

Bangladesh, sent into bat before lunch on day two, occupied the crease for 176.2 overs before Shoriful Islam was the last man out before lunch on Tuesday. 

It was an impressive team effort with half-centuries for skipper Mominul Haque, Liton Das, Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Najmul Hossain Shanto, as well as a 47 by Mehidy. 

When New Zealand thought they had seen off all recognised batsmen, Mehidy and Yasir Ali put on 75 for the seventh wicket. 

Unfortunately for Bangladesh, Joy required stitches to a split hand, injured while fielding, and it was unsure if he would open the batting when Bangladesh begin the final chase.

Scoreboard

Scoreboard at stumps on day four of the first Test between New Zealand and Bangladesh at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday:

New Zealand 1st innings 328 (D. Conway 122, H. Nicholls 75, W. Young 52; Shoriful 3-69, Mehidy 3-86, Mominul 2-6)

Bangladesh 1st innings (overnight 401-6)

Shadman Islam c and b Wagner             22

Mahmudul Hasan Joy c Nicholls b Wagner   78

Najmul Hossain Shanto c Young b Wagner   64

Mominul Haque lbw Boult                  88

Mushfiqur Rahim b Boult                  12

Liton Das c Blundell b Boult             86

Yasir Ali c Blundell by Jamieson         26

Mehidy Hasan Miraz c Blundell b Southee  47

Taskin Ahmed lbw Southee                  5

Shoriful Islam b Boult                    7

Ebadot Hossain not out                    0

Extras (lb8, nb3, w7, pen5)              23

Total: (all out, 176.2 overs)           458

Fall of wickets: 1-43 (Shadman), 2-147 (Shanto), 3-184 (Joy), 4-203 (Mushfiqur), 5-361 (Mominul), 6-370 (Das), 7-445 (Mehidy), 8-450 (Yasir), 9-458 (Taskin), 10-458 (Shoriful)

Bowling: Southee 38-4-114-2 (1w), Boult 35.2-11-85-4 (1w), Jamieson 35-11-78-1 (4w), Wagner 40-9-101-3 (1w, 3nb), Ravindra 28-5-67-0

New Zealand 2nd innings

T. Latham b Taskin                       14

W. Young b Ebadot                        69

D. Conway c Shadman b Ebadot             13

R. Taylor not out                        37

H. Nicholls b Ebadot                      0

T. Blundell lbw Ebadot                    0

R. Ravindra not out                       6

Extras: (b2, lb4, nb1, w1)                8

Total: (for 5 wkts, 63 overs)           147

To bat: K.Jamieson, T. Southee, N. Wagner, T. Boult 

Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Latham), 2-63 (Conway), 3-136 (Young), 4-136 (Nicholls), 5-136 (Blundell)

Bowling: Taskin 9-1-22-1 (1w, 1nb), Shoriful 11-1-30-0, Mehidy 22-5-43-0, Ebadot 17-4-39-4, Mominul 4-0-7-0

Toss: Bangladesh

Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Chris Gaffaney (NZL) 

TV umpire: Wayne Knights (NZL)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)