South Africa skipper AB de Villiers has admitted that Steven Smith is a "captain's nightmare" after the batsman helped Australia claim victory in the third one-day international in Canberra.
Smith struck 73 from just 55 balls as the hosts took a 2-1 lead in the series, and De Villiers conceded that his side did not know how to deal with the 25-year-old after he arrived at the crease to join Aaron Finch, who scored 109 in the win.
"I think his strength is that he's got a lot of energy at the wicket," the Proteas captain told reporters. "He's almost a captain's nightmare when he comes to the crease after 25-30 overs, especially on this kind of ground where you know you're not going to get three and four wickets in patches.
"You're going to have to work hard for your wickets, and if you get a busy cricketer at the wicket it makes it very difficult for you to control the innings, to keep your rhythm and just to pace it a little bit better. He makes it really difficult for us in doing that."
The fourth ODI takes place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday morning.
Callum Mulvihill
