De Lange strikes put Scotland on top

Con de Lange struck with his first ball as a Scotland player and took three wickets to help reduce Afghanistan to 96 for 8 on the third day in Stirling. Replying to Scotland's 233, Afghanistan ended the day trailing by 137 with Samiullah Shenwari batting on a 103-ball 29.

Playing his first first-class match since August 2012, the left-arm spinner de Lange had Rahmat Shah lbw as soon as he was brought on as Scotland's second-change bowler. He struck two more blows late in the day, off successive deliveries, to send back Mirwais Ashraf and Yamin Ahmadzai.

De Lange's strikes came on top of some excellent work from Scotland's new-ball bowlers, Alasdair Evans and Safyaan Sharif, who reduced Afghanistan to 9 for 3 within the fifth over of their innings. Rahmat helped Afghanistan recover to some extent, with partnerships of 31 with Asghar Stanikzai for the fourth wicket and 33 with Shenwari for the fifth, but his dismissal triggered another slump, four wickets falling for the addition of 21 runs.

Rahmat and Shenwari were Afghanistan's most successful bowlers as well, the two legspinners picking up three wickets apiece in Scotland's first-innings total of 233. The hosts added only six runs to their overnight total, with Rahmat picking up both their remaining wickets.