Chittagong, Feb 2 Bangladesh were staring at a huge defeat after yet another disappointing batting performance on the third day of the second and final Test against South Africa here on Sunday.

Up against South Africa's mammoth first innings total of 583-7, Bangladesh were bundled out for 259 to concede a 324-run lead to the visitors.

Following on, the hosts were reeling at 54-5 to set the stage for South Africa to complete a 2-0 series whitewash. The Proteas won the opener at Dhaka by five wickets.

Mushfiqur Rahim was batting on four while Abdur Razzaq was yet to open his account when stumps were drawn for the day, Bangladesh still needing 270 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

South African speedster Dale Steyn once again provided the vital breakthroughs, picking up three of the five wickets to fall in the second innings while left-arm spinner Robin Peterson took the other two.

Steyn accounted for opener Junaid Siddique (0), captain Mohammad Ashraful (four) and Shakib Al Hasan (two) for figures of 3-4 from 4.3 overs.

Peterson got rid of Shahriar Nafees for a 55-ball 31 containing five fours and a six, and the other opener Tamim Iqbal for nine.

Nafees had earlier top-scored for the hosts in the first innings with a 96-ball 69 containing 12 fours.

The middle-order batsman said it was humiliating to follow on, while giving credit to the South African bowlers.

"It hurts to follow on and bat twice in the same day. But all credit to their bowlers, who bowled well throughout the day.

"Steyn was unplayable on a few occasions but we are not scared of short-pitched stuff. The ball was not going over our heads because the wicket is flat."

The only other notable contributor in Bangladesh's first-innings was Shakib, who chipped in with a 75-ball 40 as the South African fast bowlers proved too good for the fragile Bangladeshi batting line-up.

Paceman Makhaya Ntini (4-35) was also finally among the wickets, polishing off the tail in quick time after Steyn (4-66) had as usual done the early damage.

Ntini also achieved a personal milestone when he surpassed Allan Donald's tally of 330 Test wickets to become the second most successful South African bowler ever.

The bowler, playing his 84th Test, claimed the honour with the wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim. The list is headed by the retired Shaun Pollock, with 421 wickets from 108 Tests.

Ntini said he felt honoured to have achieved the feat in tough conditions on the subcontinent.

"It was one of those big moments I was waiting for. It can't get better if you can bowl like this on the subcontinent and go past a legend.

"You have to run in and bowl in the right areas all the time. We are looking forward to the morning session tomorrow," he said.

Compounding the misery for Bangladesh was the injury sustained by Aftab Ahmed, who retired hurt on 21.

Ahmed missed a hook off Jacques Kallis, the ball going through the helmet grille and hitting him on the cheekbone. The right-hander needed three stitches for the cut after being stretchered off the field in agony.

It was not clear whether he would come out to bat in the second innings as he was being kept under medical observation for 24 hours.