IT never rains but it pours. Having narrowly missed out on a place in this month’s World Cup due to the weather, Scotland were again undone by the conditions as the heavens opened in Edinburgh with Afghanistan narrowly ahead of the required run rate as they looked to chase down Scotland’s first innings total of 325.

The umpires took the sides off with Afghanistan on 269 for three, just two ahead of the revised Duckworth Lewis Stern target.

“Not again,” muttered Cricket Scotland chief executive Malcolm Cannon, having been through this scenario before in the World Cup qualifier against the West Indies last year.

Scotland’s total, featuring another classy century from Calum MacLeod, had set Afghanistan a decent target to chase but, amid darkening skies and sporadic showers at the Grange, the visitors were able to get their noses in front on the back of some unflinchingly consistent batting.

Rahmat Shah was the headline act with an impressive 113 but he was ably supported by Mohammad Shazad who made 55 and Hashma Shahidi who contributed a valuable 59 by the time the rain came, delivering a seven-wicket win.

It was not the start new Scotland head coach Shane Burger had hoped for although the impending double-header with Sri Lanka offers scope for immediate redemption.

Afghanistan had elected to come to Scotland to help prepare for the World Cup and will be hoping the conditions across the border will be somewhat warmer as the 600-strong crowd – including a rowdy contingent cheering for the visitors – cowered under blankets and pulled on extra layers of clothing.

This was Scotland’s first outing since the death of former vice-captain Con de Lange, the team wearing black armbands and a minute’s silence observed before play commenced.

Kyle Coetzer and Matthew Cross put on 76 for the opening wicket before Cross was caught behind, with the captain continuing to reach a 13th ODI half-century before being caught and bowled by captain Gulbadin Naib for 79.

With the opening pair having put together a solid base, MacLeod, Richie Berrington and George Munsey were able to play more expansively to take Scotland closer to a total that would give Afghanistan something to think about.

Berrington racked up a quick-fire 33 runs from 20 balls that included a spectacular shot that sailed over the third man boundary before having his stumps split by Naib who claimed his third wicket of the innings.

Munsey took over the mantle. In one devastating over he hit Naib for 20 from four balls that included a maximum that might have troubled traffic outside the ground. Just one delivery after another one-bounce four, though, he departed, trapped leg before by Aftab Alam for an entertaining 28 from 13 balls.

It was MacLeod, however, hero of last summer’s milestone victory over England, who would go on to post the highest score of the Scotland innings. After reaching his 50 from just 50 balls, he reached his century in dramatic fashion, his fiercely-driven effort crashing into the palm of bowler Hamid Hassan who couldn’t hold on to it.

With the ball dribbling away, MacLeod ran the single needed to reach three figures. He would be out in the very next ball he faced – caught deep on the square leg boundary – but had more than made his mark on that contest by that point.

Scotland were further encouraged when Coetzer made an acrobatic diving catch to dismiss opener Hazra Zazai for just 14 but that optimism would soon dissipate as the visitors recovered quickly, with Shah’s century guiding them home with a bit of help from the weather.