Late wickets swung the game in Afghanistan's favour as Scotland stuttered on the second day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup campaign in Stirling.

Captain Preston Mommsen and Calum MacLeod had been comfortable at 169-3, but Afghanistan's spinners garnered six wickets to leave the Scottish batting order struggling for answers.

Tuesday had been spent asking questions about the wetness of the outfield, so when a toss finally took place at lunchtime on day two, it was no surprise that Afghanistan's captain Asghar Stanikzai asked Scotland to bat first.

However, the ball failed to swing and the seamers found little help from a surprisingly dry wicket, although they did get rid of 19-year-old Andrew Umeed in the sixth over, unfortunate to be given out caught behind off Yamin Ahmadzai.

Fellow opener Hamish Gardiner found going easy as the ball rarely did anything unexpected, either in the air or off the pitch, while his captain sprinted out of the blocks, driving anything that was even remotely full, while his partner seized on anything short and dumped it over midwicket.

It was only at the introduction of spin that the problems began for Scotland, both of Afghan and Scottish making.

The introduction of their World Cup captain, off-spinner Mohammad Nabi, brought about Gardiner's end, trapped on the crease four short of a maiden first class fifty: he and Mommsen shared what was to be the largest partnership of the day, putting on 68.

Warwickshire's Freddie Coleman didn't keep his captain much company, although his demise was entirely his own, as he swept a Nabi full toss straight to a deepish square leg just before tea.

In MacLeod however, Mommsen found a more willing partner, as he took the game to the spinners, bullying 21-year-old leg-spinner Rahmat Shah, who spun the ball all day and troubled every other batsman, out of the attack with a range of sweeps and cuts.

However, as soon as the two batsmen looked to press on and build a big partnership, they were gone.

The third spinner, Samiullah Shenwari ran a lap of victory when he got one to go straight on and dismiss Mommsen (pictured) for a fine 77, and when he had MacLeod caught at slip for 38, his celebration was similarly exuberant.

Wicketkeeper Matt Cross sought to bat through the late evening, timing the ball superbly and fighting a fine battle with medium pacer Mirwais Ashraf, who accounted for Richie Berrington in the meantime.

Cross showed serious mettle to stick out the session, and Con de Lange, freshly qualified and on Scotland debut, looked like he would see stumps with him, until a rush of blood to the head saw him sky a Shah full toss to mid off, and Safyaan Sharif failed to pick Shenwari's straight ball.

In a format where a first innings lead is worth six points in a game that will likely end in a draw, Scotland will have been disappointed to lose five wickets for 56 runs in the final session.

However, with a slow outfield and a pitch that has proven tricky to bat on against spin, Scotland will be hopeful of applying the pressure on days three and four in an effort to force a result.

Cross, who looked in fine form in the evening sunshine, will be a major factor in those efforts, if he can find support from Ally Evans and Gavin Main on Thursday morning.

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