After dismal showings in the longest format of the game over the years, Bangladesh started to show glimpses of heading in the right direction as they maintained an upper hand over New Zealand for the fourth consecutive day in the first Test at Mount Maunganui.

Pacer Ebadot Hossain's late punch put the hosts under pressure and saw them end the fourth day on 147 for five, holding onto a slender 17-run lead going into the final day today.

Earlier, Bangladesh rode on the bowling of Shoriful Islam and Mehedi Hasan Miraz -- who scalped three wickets each -- to bundle the hosts out for 328 runs in their first essay despite Devon Conway's hundred.

Bangladesh replied brilliantly and posted 458 -- riding on fifties from Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto, skipper Mominul Haque and Liton Das -- to take a first-innings lead of 158, the first instance that Bangladesh have taken the lead while batting second in a Test outside Asia.

On the fourth day, the Tigers showed great consistency with the ball again and on this occasion, pacer Ebadot picked up three wickets in the span of nine deliveries to give Bangladesh a chance to create history on the final day.