Bangladesh looked to be closing in on a famous victory over world Test champions New Zealand after Ebadot Hossain’s three-wicket burst in the final session of the fourth day reduced the hosts to 147 for 5 in the opening match in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.

On a pitch on which Bangladesh and New Zealand collectively amassed 786 runs in their first innings with the visitors taking a 130-run lead, Ebadot (4/39) wrecked New Zealand’s top order in the second innings to put the tourists on the brink of a major upset despite their poor catching on the penultimate day.

Ross Taylor, playing his last Test series, was batting on 37 with all-rounder Rachin Ravindra on six at the other end, with New Zealand barely hanging on with a lead of 17 runs and only five wickets remaining, done in by Ebadot’s aggressive swing bowling.

After dismissing first innings century-maker Devon Conway for 13, Ebadot, who prior to this Test had a bowling average of around 82 from 10 matches, removed Will Young (69), Henry Nicholls (0) and Tom Blundell (0) in the space of six balls.

Bangladesh have never won a Test match in New Zealand.

“The first thing to know about Ebadot as a person is that he only came to cricket about five years ago,” Bangladesh’s West Indies-born bowling coach Ottis Gibson said of the pacer who will turn 28 on Friday. “He won a fast-bowling competition somewhere and two years later he was playing international cricket.

“He’s a joy to work with... When his confidence is high he can bowl spells like this.”

Bangladesh though know there’s still work to do.

“We are in a good position but we are not overexcited,” Bangladesh wicketkeeper Liton Das told reporters. New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi said Taylor and Ravindra could not afford to be negative on the final day.