Bangladesh faces the possibility of being beaten inside three days after being forced to follow-on when they were dismissed for just 153 in response to South Africa’s first inning score of 441-9 declared on Thursday.

At stumps, Bangladesh were 20-1 in their second innings, still 268 runs behind. Things would have been even worse for Bangladesh had wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim not scored a quickfire 48 to add some semblance of respectability to the first innings score.

Mushfiqur started his counter-attack with Bangladesh reeling at 88-8, hitting nine fours in his 88-minute stay and sharing a 60-run partnership with fast bowler Shahadat Hossain, who was the next best Bangladesh batsman with 23.

Mushfiqur eventually fell leg-before to Jacques Kallis, but not before he had inflicted some damage to the bowling figures of Morne Morkel, who conceded 55 runs in eight overs for his two wickets.

Makhaya Ntini was back to his best after being rested from South Africa’s one-day side, taking 3-20 off eight overs. Kallis took 2-10, and Dale Steyn 2-36.

Steyn took his 55th wicket for the year when he got a lifting ball to ricochet off the inside edge of Imrul Kayes’ bat in the second innings, joining Harbhajan Singh as the leading wicket-taker in the world. Steyn has taken his in 10 Tests while Harbhajan has played 11.

Earlier, Bangladesh’s bowlers did well to restrict South Africa to 441, after South Africa resumed on 299-1 overnight having been put in to bat by Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful.

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