Left-arm fast bowler James Franklin's hat-trick helped New Zealand gain the upperhand on the second day of the first cricket Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Wednesday.
New Zealand reached 207 for 5 wickets at the close of play on the second day in reply to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 177 after surviving a spin scare on a slow turning pitch.
Left-arm spinners Mohammad Rafique (3-50) and Manjural Rana (2-54) raised hopes of a Bangladeshi fightback when they reduced New Zealand from 97-1 to 139-5.
Opener Mathew Sinclair top scored for the tourists with a well made 76. All-rounder Jacob Oram (18 not out) and wicket-keeper Brendon McCullum (48 not out) put on 68 for the unfinished sixth wicket to ensure their team did not lose the advantage on the second day.
Franklin began the day in sensational style when he dismissed Rana and Rafique with the last two balls of his opening over and then bowled Tapash Baisya with the first delivery of his next over to complete the hat-trick.
He became only the second New Zealander after off-spinner Peter Petherick to grab a Test hat-trick. Petherick achieved the feat on his Test debut against Pakistan at Lahore in 1976-77.
Bangladesh had resumed at 165-6 but Rana fell at his overnight score of 16 when he edged Franklin straight to McCullum, while Rafique was caught at second slip by Scott Styris off the next ball.
Baisya offered no stroke to a delivery that moved in slightly to knock back the off-stump.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Khaled Mashud, leading the side in the absence of Habibul Bashar, scored an unbeaten 23 to edge Bangladesh to 177.
New Zealand also struggled for runs on the slow pitch despite impressive knocks from Sinclair and McCullum.
Sinclair put on 63 for the second wicket with skipper Stephen Fleming (29), who was caught behind while attempting to cut a low delivery from Rana.
Rana then had Styris (2) caught by Rajin Saleh, who reacted swiftly at short-leg to hold the rebound after the ball had hit his body.
Mark Richardson (15) was the first to go, caught behind off Rafique.
Nathan Astle (11) was brilliantly caught by Rana at the lone slip while trying to cut Rafique, while Sinclair became the spinner's third victim in the last session after hitting 10 fours in his third Test half-century.
Sinclair was trapped leg-before while attempting to sweep a low delivery.
Scorecard:
Bangladesh first innings: 177 all out
New Zealand first innings:
M Richardson c Mashud b Rafique 15
M Sinclair lbw b Rafique 76
S Fleming c Mashud b Rana 29
S Styris c Saleh b Rana 2
N Astle c Rana b Rafique 11
J Oram not out 18
B McCullum not out 48
Extras (lb-2, nb-2, w-4) 8
Total (for 5 wkts in 79 overs) 207
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-97, 3-99, 4-122, 5-139
Bowling: Baisya 13-2-45-0, Aziz 9-1-46-0, Rafique 33-13-50-3, Rana 21-4-54-2, Saleh 1-0-4-0, Kapali 2-0-6-0.
