Ireland will have to return to Malahide this morning (11.0) in search of a single wicket after they just failed to wrap up their opening Intercontinental Cup clash against the United Arab Emirates inside three days.

Ireland took 11 wickets over the course of day three, finishing off the UAE’s first innings for 213 in the space of 15 deliveries in the morning to leave the visiting side still 279 short of Ireland’s first-innings total of 492.

Ireland skipper William Porterfield took his 100th international catch in helping to dismiss Manjula Guruge off the bowling of George Dockrell (three for 48) to end the innings after Craig Young (four for 51) ended the stay of the dangerous Shaiman Anwar for 57.

Bonus points

Ireland’s first-innings lead earned them the six bonus points and Porterfield then enforced the follow-on in a bid to wrap up victory as quick as possible with Friday’s forecast for morning rain showers in north county Dublin certainly part of his consideration.

Left-arm spinner Dockrell removed openers Asif Iqbal (12) and Amjad Ali (28) before lunch, while off-spinner Paul Stirling made a vital contribution with the ball following his first-innings century when he found the edge of Khurram Khan’s bat for Ed Joyce to take the catch in the slips.

Saqib Ali and Swapnil Patil then did their best to frustrate the home side as they showed that the third-day pitch was still favouring the batsmen.

The pair had just reached their 100 partnership when Patil had a rush of blood as he charged Dockrell, with Gary Wilson stumping the left-hander for 63 before getting Anwar for a duck .

The new ball was taken with Tim Murtagh and Young both claiming wickets to leave the UAE on 188 for seven.

Granted the extra time to take the final three wickets, Young and Stirling took care of two with the final pair holding out as the UAE closed on 251-9, still 28 runs short of making Ireland bat again.