WHAT a stunning start to an international career.
Con de Lange may have been a controversial pick for Scotland - a 34-year-old South African who has only just qualified on residency grounds - but he fully justified his selection with three wickets that could turn out to be crucial in his adopted team's Intercontinental Cup campaign.
The problem was that his team-mates could not find the urgency they needed to finish the Afghan innings before the end of play. A series of questionably defensive fields did them no favours, as the visitors put up the shutters and did their best to make sure there will have to be play on Friday - which is far from guaranteed if the weather forecast is correct - if Scotland are to claim the points on offer for the team leading after the first innings.
De Lange could never have dreamt of a better opening. Coming on with the visitors staging something of a revival, after Ali Evans and Safyaan Sharif had skittled out the top order, he wasted no time in making his mark on international cricket when he trapped Javed Ahmadi leg before with his opening ball.
"It was really enjoyable," he said. "It was a nice atmosphere to be part of and I thought we bowled well as a unit. That first ball was great. I had run through it in my head for the kind of shots he was playing and, thankfully, he missed it. I am at the very end of my career as an older lad but the environment that has been created in the Scotland team is exciting, I am proud and honoured to be part of that."
As starts go, de Lange's was as good as it gets and, for a while, he had to be happy with that. He held down one end while the Afghans blocked everything that was bowled their way, though he did manage another piece of magic later when he broke the seventh-wicket partnership managing to get one to turn off a length and Mirwais Ashraf was leg before. His debut got even better on the next ball as Ali Evans took a brilliant catch at leg slip to dismiss Yamin Ahmadzi and give Scotland hope of finishing the job before the days play ended.
They could not make it happen, though. They defended too much and if play is wiped out on Friday, they will share the points with Afghanistan, despite the damage done by Scotland's bowlers. It would be a truly frustrating end to a frustrating week.
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