New Zealand's pace bowlers ripped through Bangladesh's top order to leave the visitors staring at almost certain defeat at the close of play on the second day of the second Test on Sunday.

The visitors, who began their second innings 250 runs behind New Zealand after dismissing them for 393 earlier in the day at the Basin Reserve, crumbled to 51 for five in their second innings, still 199 runs away from making New Zealand bat again.

Habibul Bashar was on 21, while all rounder Shakib Al Hasan was with him on four.

Bangladesh will be further hampered on Monday by the knowledge that recognised opener Tamim Iqbal has a broken thumb after dropping a catch on Sunday and may not be able to bat at all in their second innings.

New Zealand won the first Test in Dunedin by nine wickets within three days. After New Zealand's Daniel Vettori (94) and Stephen Fleming (87) both fell agonisingly short of making hundreds in New Zealand's first innings, the bowlers rammed home the advantage by strking at regular intervals.

Kyle Mills, who took two for 15, began Bangla’s second innings collapse.

New Zealand's innings had been anchored by Vettori, who struck 17 boundaries in an 87-ball innings but missed out on a third test century when he was caught and bowled by Aftab.

Fleming had a life on 61 when he was dropped by Shariar Nafees at deep mid-on but his luck ran out after lunch when he was caught at deep mid-wicket by Aftab off Shakib Al Hasan after an innings featuring 13 boundaries.