South Africa completed a 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan, winning the third test by an innings and 18 runs in Centurion on Sunday.
Graeme Smith achieved his 50th test victory, the most by any captain.
Resuming after tea on 176 for six, Pakistan’s lower order was slowly dismantled by Steyn and debutant Kyle Abbott.
Steyn made the breakthrough when the third umpire took an age to confirm Saeed Ajmal’s lbw dismissal.
Better known for his spin bowling, Ajmal provided the crowd with some entertaining cricket, hitting four boundaries and the only six of the match during his innings of 31.
He also shared the biggest partnership of the innings with Sarfraz Ahmed after the pair came together on 114 for six.
They combined for 69 runs, off 94 balls, and, in one over, they smacked Steyn for 14 runs.
Sarfraz went on to achieve his highest first-class score – 40, off only 45 balls including six fours — with his previous best being the 17 he scored in the first innings. Dean Elgar caught him on the third-man boundary, giving Steyn his fourth wicket.
After Abbott — rising to fame overnight with his seven for 29 in Pakistan’s first innings – got rid of Ehsan Adil (12), there was only one wicket remaining and it became a competition between Steyn, going for a five-wicket haul, and Abbott looking for his 10th.
In the end, Smith ran out of patience after the last wicket pair of Rahat Ali and Mohammad Irfan had put on 33 runs together.
He handed the ball to Robin Peterson who completed the job and Pakistan were all out for 235.
Steyn bagged four for 80 while Abbot took two for 33, giving him match figures of nine for 62.
The visitors had battled hard in the morning, losing just the one early wicket when Younis Khan (11) got an outside edge to Steyn.
Opening bat Azhar Ali and Imran Farhat managed to withstand the hostile attack and showed plenty of courage and good technique.
Several balls kept low and when Smith introduced Robin Peterson, he caused a few problems hitting the rough from over the wicket.
Things fell apart for Pakistan after lunch – the turning point being when Azhar was unnecessarily run out.
After batting so patiently for his 27 (110 balls), he turned for a second run and was turned back but was eaten by the powerful arm of Steyn.
The pair had added 54 runs together, off 135 balls, but the demise of their partnership signalled the beginning of the end for the visitors.
Abbott grabbed his first wicket of the day with a short delivery which was also a touch wide but Farhat slashed at it and found the edge through to the keeper for 43.
In the next over, captain Misbah-ul-Haq (five) got a thin edge which saw him removed for five, giving Rory Kleinveldt his first wicket of the match.
He got his second one in his next over when Asad Shafiq (six) spooned a catch to Vernon Philander at mid-off.
