Steve Smith’s second big knock in three matches was the highlight of Australia’s total of 9-231 in the third and final one-day game against Pakistan.

Choosing to bat first on a flat-looking pitch in Abu Dhabi, Australia struggled to score freely and relied heavily on opener David Warner (56) and No.3 Smith (77).

Smith’s 105-ball innings included only two boundaries as the 25-year-old showed patience and skill to find the gaps against the tight-fisted Pakistan bowling attack.

Opener Aaron Finch completed a poor series with the bat, popping a catch to mid-on with his tally on 18.

Warner gave Australia a solid start, sharing partnerships of 48 with Finch and 54 with Smith.

The in-form Warner struck six fours and one six before he was caught and bowled by legspinner Shahid Afridi at 2-102.

Skipper George Bailey followed next over for a third-ball duck, caught at gully to paceman Mohammad Irfan.

Glenn Maxwell was Afridi’s second victim, caught at deep square leg by a diving Umar Amin for 20.

Australia scored only nine runs in their five-over batting powerplay taken at the start of the 36th over and lost the wickets of Phil Hughes (five) and Brad Haddin (two).

James Faulkner and Smith added 40 for the seventh wicket before Smith was bowled by Sohail Tanvir with the total on 199 in the 46th over.

Smith’s 77 gave him an average of 63.33 for the series after his match-winning 101 in game one in Sharjah and 12 in Dubai.

Mitchell Starc was run out in the 49th over and Faulkner fell for a handy 33, caught in the deep in the final over as Tanvir took a third scalp.

Pakistan made four team changes in response to their opening two losses in the three-game series.

This left several questions unanswered and even new skipper Afridi was unable to fully explain what was going on.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq is believed to have stepped down after scoring 0 and 15 in his side’s losses in the first two games.

Umar Akmal and injured bowlers Wahab Riaz and Raza Hasan are also out of the side.

The four inclusions are Tanvir, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin and Anwar Ali.

Afridi mentioned a few names at his pitch-side interview before the game and then looked puzzled.

“Who else? I dunno,” he said, before walking off.