Saltires hopes hanging by a thread after batting collapse

The Scots hit back superbly to dismiss Afghanistan for 171 and claim an improbable first innings lead of 41. However, a potentially fatal batting collapse in the evening sun saw Pete Steindl's side close on 64-6 - a lead of just 105.

With skipper Gordon Drummond and Richie Berrington both struggling through injury, the Saltires may be forced to bowl the Afghans out for a second time with just one fully-fit pace bowler in Matty Parker.

It had looked good for the Scots when Forfarshire pace bowler Parker and spinner Majid Haq both claimed three wickets each in the first half of a topsy-turvy day in the desert.

Scotland recovered from the loss of skipper Drummond to a rib injury and some wayward early overs to make the breakthrough when Haq had Mirwais Ashraf sharply caught by keeper Simon Smith.

A change of ends then saw Berrington find his line and length to claim the crucial wickets of opener Karim Sadiq and the normally free-scoring Mo Shahzad (10).

Sadiq had looked particularly dangerous in reaching 34, but Berrington managed to get one through his defence to trap him lbw.

Shahzad, a century maker against the Scots at Ayr in August, then took a liberty and was easily caught by Parker at mid-wicket. However, Afghan skipper Nawroz Mangal kept the Saltires at bay with a fighting 56 before Haq sparked the collapse with his second success. Spin partner Ross Lyons claimed the prized scalp of Mangal, while Parker sent down 20 lung-busting overs in searing heat to claim 3-56.

It was left to Haq to complete the rout, the Clydesdale spinner finishing with 3-48 as the Afghans lost their last six wickets for just 39 runs.

The Saltires tails were up as they went out to build on their lead and they looked in little danger as Preston Mommsen and Fraser Watts put on 22 for the first wicket.

However, Mommsen was trapped in front by leg-spinner Samiullah Shenwari, who also had Watts caught for 28. But the jitters really set in when stand-in skipper Kyle Coetzer was needlessly run out after a dreadful mix up with Gregor Maiden, who followed two balls later. Neil McCallum, who made a century in the first innings, then went for a duck.

And Scotland's misery was complete when Parker was bowled by Hamid Hassan in the last over of the day.

It means the Scottish tail will have to wag today if they are to give the bowlers a realistic opportunity of sealing victory.