Con de Lange's sensational spell gave Scotland hope of beating the rain and taking a winning draw away from their ICC Intercontinental Cup game with Afghanistan.

Debutant de Lange struck with his first ball in international cricket, getting Rahmat Shah Zurmati LBW as Scotland built on the momentum which had been first won by the seam trio of Alasdair Evans, Safyaan Sharif, and Gavin Main.

The third day of the heavily rain-affected game began in similarly damp conditions, and only at 2:50pm could play resume.

Scotland were quickly dismissed, adding just six runs to the 227 they made on day two, losing Evans and then wicketkeeper Matt Cross, both to young star and leg-spinner Shah, taking the total number of Scottish dismissals by spin to eight for the match.

However, it was initial the quicks who did the damage in reply, as Evans and Sharif reduced an experienced if impetuous Afghan top order to 9-3, included a superb delivery from Evans to castle former captain Nawroz Mangal for none.

At first change, Main struck in his first over, picking up the prize wicket of Asghar Stankzai for 26, much to the relief of Hamish Gardiner, who had put down a simple catch at third slip with the batsman on a duck.

Shah and Samiullah Shenwari, both of whom had spun the game with the ball, provided resistance in the middle order, the latter batting out the rest of the day with admirable discipline, scoring only 29 in the 30 overs he spent at the crease.

His 21-year-old partner, much fancied by fans of Afghan cricket to become the next star of the side, looked assured with bat in hand, and deserving of the tag of wunderkind.

However, the 15-over partnership was undone by the introduction of spin, which had changed the game the day before, and would again, as de Lange hit him low on the front pad with his very first slow left arm delivery for Scotland, and Allan Haggo obliged with the finger.

Finding a comfortable length and a batting line-up keener on occupation than aggression, de Lange strung dots together and created pressure that led to wickets at both ends.

Main returned to blow away Mohammad Nabi, before de Lange claimed Mirwais Ashraf and Yamin Ahmadzai, the latter first ball thanks to a superb catch at leg slip by Evans, low down for the big man.

The hat-trick ball brought the field in, and they stayed in as de Lange finished with figures of 9-5-9-3, while Shenwari frustrated the seamers at the other end.

Scotland were unable to bowl Afghanistan out, which would have secured the six-point bonus for a first innings lead, but at times seemed strangely passive.

When Richie ‘Golden Arm' Berrington was introduced in search of a wicket, he was given three boundary-riders and a deep mid-on and mid-off, as though filling in the middle overs of an ODI.

Scotland had a lead of 150 and their opponents seven and then eight down, but seemed reticent to attack.

It was another example of how little multi-cricket they have really played: de Lange's 89 first class caps is more than the rest of the side can manage put together (70).

Preston Mommsen, who led so well with the bat on Wednesday, at times looked lost, unsure how to deal with the plethora of circumstances that cricket played over the course of a week can create.

However, despite all the rain and inexperience, Scotland could come away with 13 points from their first step on the road to Test cricket, and in de Lange, have found a spinner whose experience could prove crucial in the months to come.

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