Concentration lapses costly for Bangladesh - Mashud

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud had cause to regret the lapses in concentration which have put his side on the end of a possible innings defeat by New Zealand in the first National Bank series Test in Hamilton.

Bangladesh ended the fourth day still 70 runs short of making New Zealand bat again with only six wickets in hand.

"We have no match experience in these conditions.

"It is not the bounce or the pace that is the problem, it is knowing how to leave the ball and which is the good ball to play," he said.

The mental application of his players had been exposed by the New Zealanders although there were some good points to come out, including a good debut by Sanwar Hossain who scored 45 runs, and Habibul Bashar who scored 61 runs before being dismissed by New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori.

"We tried to play as long as we could, to be patient and we will have to try hard to bat for the whole day tomorrow," he said.

Mashud, looking back at his team's bowling effort, said the bowlers did not use the conditions as well as they might have, despite having New Zealand reeling at 51/4.

"They bowled too far outside the off stump, and the leg stump, and we missed three chances," he said.

"The pitch is a good one to leave the short balls on, you can easily avoid them here," he said.