KEY POINTS:
DUNEDIN - New Zealand have trumped Bangladesh by nine wickets to take the test at University Oval.
The Black Caps were down 34 runs in the second innings, but steadily gained ground after lunch.
The Bangladesh wickets all fell at regular intervals throughout the two sessions after
they had started the day at 148 without loss.
Daniel Vettori finished with four wickets, while the rest of the wickets were shared among the seam bowlers.
Iain O'Brien atoned for a costly fielding lapse by claiming the key wickets of Bangladeshi skipper Mohammad Ashraful and Aftab Ahmed as New Zealand edged closer to victory in the first cricket here today.
Ashraful's demise 15 minutes before lunch on the third day for 23 -- then Aftab's completion of a pair in O'Brien's next over -- ensured the tourists were still 14 runs shy of making New Zealand bat a second time in perfect conditions at University Oval.
The tourists were on 206 for five in their second innings at the interval.
O'Brien, who dropped opener Tamim Iqbal on eight in the middle session yesterday, finally had cause for celebration when Ashraful scooped a wide delivery to Craig Cumming at point.
Ashraful, who barely looked to attack during his 62-ball stay, slammed his bat into the ground in disgust as he succumbed to a soft dismissal.
Aftab, who made a 25-ball duck in the first innings, lasted just four balls second time round when he prodded O'Brien to close in catcher Matthew Bell.
Having resumed on 148 without loss, Bangladesh lost five for 58 before lunch, a disastrous return considering Tamim and fellow opener Zunaed Siddique made batting look effortless late yesterday.
The debutant duo again looked comfortable this morning until Kyle Mills, the unlucky bowler when O'Brien fumbled yesterday, finally got his man when the left-hander played on for 84.
Zunaed followed the 18-year-old back to the pavilion in the next over for 74 when a defensive prod flew to the safe hands of Stephen Fleming at first slip.
Recalled veteran Habibul Bashar made 11 before becoming the third wicket to fall inside the first hour when he cut Jacob Oram to Mathew Sinclair in the gully.
Shahriar Nafees was on six at the lunch break with wicketkeeper Mushfiq Rahim on one.
O'Brien, part of an ineffective New Zealand bowling display yesterday, had the best figures of two for 30 from eight overs.
- NZPA