Steyn and Ntini took eight first innings wickets between them

Bangladesh are staring at the prospect of a resounding defeat to South Africa in the second Test after being asked to follow on and ending day three on 54-5.

They were all out for 259, replying to South Africa's 583-7 declared, despite Shahriar Nafees making 69.

Dale Steyn (4-66) and Makhaya Ntini (4-35) did the damage and Steyn then took 3-4 in their second innings.

Left-arm spinner Robin Peterson weighed in with two wickets as Bangladesh ended play still 270 runs in arrears.

On a pitch still conducive to good batting the hosts began well, Nafees and Abdur Razzak adding 58 to the overnight score before nightwatchman Razzak was taken by Ashwell Prince attempting to loft Peterson over the on side.

Nafees and Aftab Ahmed saw Bangladesh through to lunch with a dogged display but the former was caught by Graeme Smith off Steyn with the fifth ball after the re-start and the latter retired hurt three overs later.

Aftab top-edged Jaques Kallis through the gap between his helmet and visor and left the Chittagong field con a stretcher.

He was taken to hospital to treat an injury to his right eye and cheekbone.

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"Though there was no fracture of the bone, Aftab will be under observation at the hospital overnight," said Bangladesh Cricket Board spokesman Rabeed Imam.

Saqibul Hasan, dropped early on in his innings, and Mushfiqur Rahim provided stubborn resistance until Ntini had the pair snapped up by Mark Boucher in quick succession.

The 30-year-old Ntini, playing his 84th match, surpassed Allan Donald's tally of 330 Test wickets and became the second most successful South African bowler with Rahim's scalp.

"It was one of those big moments I was waiting for," said Ntini who went on to account for Mohammad Rafique and Mashrafe Mortaza as Bangladesh were left needing 325 just to make the tourists bat again.

And they got off to the worst possible start when Junaid Siddique got a thick outside edge to a Steyn delivery, presenting Boucher with an easy take.

Sensing a hasty conclusion, South Africa looked to make further inroads and in the 19th over Tamim Iqbal miscued Peterson to Steyn at mid-on and, three balls later, a befuddled Nafees edged Peterson to Kallis.

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful clipped Steyn to Boucher for four and the same bowler compounded the home side's woes when he forced Saqibul to glove to Neil McKenzie at forward short-leg with the third-from-last ball of the day.

"He is going to be one of those great weapons that we will have in South Africa," Ntini added of Steyn.