Duanne Olivier claimed a maiden Test five-wicket haul as Pakistan were bowled out for 181 on the first day of the first Test against South Africa at SuperSport Park on Wednesday.

Olivier, effectively South Africa's fifth-choice fast bowler, took six for 37 to steal the limelight on a day when Dale Steyn became South Africa's leading all-time wicket-taker. Babar Azam made a defiant 71 off 79 balls to give the Pakistan innings some respectability after their batsmen were subjected to an onslaught of fast, short-pitched bowling.

Steyn took the second wicket of the day to claim the South African record but had no further success. He was punished for 40 runs in four overs in his third spell of the day as Azam went on the attack while batting with the tail. Azam hit ten of his 15 fours off Steyn, who finished with one for 66.

Olivier, who gained his sixth Test cap following injuries to Vernon Philander and Lungi Ngidi, was consistently hostile, especially in a seven-over spell after lunch when he ripped through Pakistan's middle order, taking three for 17.

He returned to take the last wicket shortly before the scheduled tea break.

Steyn claimed his 422nd Test wicket, going past previous record-holder Shaun Pollock, when Fakhar Zaman edged him to third slip for 12, sparking exuberant celebrations from his team-mates.

Rabada lifted his new-ball partner onto his shoulders as other players rushed in to congratulate him.

 “His performances both home and away have been remarkable,” said Pollock in a statement issued by Cricket South Africa. "His injuries of late have been in stark contrast to how well he has managed his body and fitness throughout his career."

Pollock said Steyn's record stamped him as South Africa's all-time best fast bowler.

“I have enjoyed so many attributes of Dale's bowling, the ability to swing the ball at high speed upfront, reverse-swing the ball with devastating effect and bowl with great control, as well as being able to crank it up with high-speed, hostile bowling on very flat surfaces at times,”said Pollock.

But four serious injuries delayed what had seemed imminently inevitable.

The groin injury in India was followed by a shoulder injury during the first Test against England in December 2015 and, after a brief comeback, a more serious shoulder injury against Australia in November 2016 which caused him to miss 15 Tests.

Just when it seemed he had made a full recovery, he suffered a freak heel injury in the first Test against India in January this year, which caused him to miss the remaining Tests against India and a series against Australia.

After a slow recovery, Steyn spent time with English county Hampshire and returned to Test cricket in an unproductive series in Sri Lanka during which he took only two wickets in two Tests to be stuck level with Pollock.

Steyn is now 11th on his own on the all-time world list, needing to match New Zealand's Richard Hadlee on 431 to claim a place in the top ten.

Steyn has had success in all Test-playing countries in taking five wickets in an innings on 26 occasions, with five ten-wicket match hauls.