Australia avoided a series whitewash against Pakistan as they won the third and final Twenty20 international in Dubai by 94 runs thanks to a fine effort from Hampshire star Glenn Maxwell.

Having slipped to second-bottom in the T20 rankings following Saturday's reverse, Australia's morale could hardly have been lower as they looked to end their preparations for the World Cup in Sri Lanka on a high.

And they managed to give themselves a shot in the arm, posting an imposing-looking 168 for seven and then strangling Pakistan for 74 all out in 19.1 overs.

The contrast between the two innings could not have been starker, with Australia playing with freedom and their opponents decidedly shaky with bat in-hand.

The Baggy Green were able to bowl to adventurous fields on the back of their own score, which was underpinned by David Warner's 34-ball 59.

The pinch-hitter and Shane Watson set the platform for the innings, keeping the wickets column blank through to 111 when Watson chipped Yasir Arafat to Umar Gul for 47.

Warner perished at the hands of the same bowler nine balls later and the scorecard would cascade downwards after that, with Glenn Maxwell (27), Mike Hussey (12), George Bailey (three) failing to trouble the scorers too much.

Saeed Ajmal (two for 19) accounted for Hussey and Bailey, castling them both, and after a thrilling start, Australia limped to the conclusion of their overs.

They need not have worried, though, as they had Pakistan reeling at 19 for five after just 31 balls.

With Pat Cummins swinging the ball both ways he took the scalps of Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, while Mitchell Starc chipped in to get rid of Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal.

Only Nasir Jamshed looked like doing anything but he lost his wicket to Maxwell and, when Starc (three for 11) and Cummins (three for 15) returned to clean up the tail, the game was up.