ICC Intercontinental Cup, Ayr (day two of four, close):
Afghanistan 435 & 0/0 (1 over) v Scotland 139
Match scorecard (external site)

Tail-ender Nel was top scorer for Scotland with 36 runs

Scotland slumped to 139 all out as Afghanistan took control of their ICC Intercontinental Cup clash in Ayr.

The visitors resumed on 349 for five in their first innings of the four-day game and pressed on to 435, built around Samiullah Shenwari's century.

Hamid Hassan then took six for 40 to crush the hosts, for whom Dewald Nel was top scorer at the tail with 36.

And, although they opted not to enforce the follow-on, Afghanistan were left with two days to push for victory.

Shenwari began the day unbeaten on 50, with Asghar Stanikzai 88 not out at the other end.

The latter, though, added just five to his score before falling four overs into the day to end a partnership of 119.

Mirwais Ashraf offered good support to Shenwari, making 19 and hanging around for 51 deliveries to see him within sight of his hundred - which he duly reached before becoming the last man out when bowled by Nel.

Scotland were soon in trouble as medium-pacer Hassan snared Fraser Watts (16), whose opening partner Ryan Flannigan was run out by Ashraf for the same score.

Hassan ran through the middle order with a spell of four wickets in as many overs, leaving wicketkeeper Simon Smith to offer some overdue resistance with a gritty 19 not out from 90 balls.

Smith played second fiddle, though, as Nel top-scored from number 11.

The South Africa-born paceman made a first-class best 36, with five fours and a six, in a last-wicket stand of 63 to salvage a degree of respectability.

Noor Ali Zadran played out a Nel maiden to finish the day.

Leaders Scotland require a victory to qualify for November's final in Dubai, while Afghanistan sit third in the table.

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