Day 1

ED JOYCE scored a mammoth unbeaten 229 as Ireland finished a record breaking first day on 420 for 3 against the UAE at Malahide in their ICC InterContinental Cup clash.

Joyce's innings was the highest individual score for Ireland - overtaking Eoin Morgan's score of 209 - as he plundered the beleaguered Emirati attack to all parts of the picturesque Malahide ground.

The 36 year-old smashed 29 fours and 3 sixes in his 223 ball stay, making the UAE pay severely for their missed opportunities.

Paul Stirling was made to play second fiddle to Joyce, as the pair added a mammoth 231 for the second wicket - Ireland's fourth highest partnership in their 160 year history as the Emiratis were put to the sword after asking Ireland to bat first.

Play was delayed by 45 minutes at the start of the day and Irish openers Paul Stirling and William Porterfield adopted a circumspect approach, adding 46 in the 18 overs before lunch.

Another rain shower delayed proceedings in the afternoon but once play resumed, Ireland attempted to step up the run rate. However, skipper William Porterfield fell for 17, caught by Anwar off Naveed, having added 59 with Stirling - the 101st time the pair had opened the innings together.

Joyce and Stirling then proceeded to take the game completely away from the UAE with their brilliant second wicket stand.

Stirling reached his century from 145 balls, hitting 14 fours and a six, continuing his recent prolific form for Middlesex in the T20 format. It was his 9th in Irish colours - three behind record holder William Porterfield who has 12.

Joyce followed him to the landmark soon after - his century taking ten balls fewer than Stirling - his sixth hundred for Ireland contained 9 fours and one maximum. Stirling eventually fell for 146 - his highest first-class score - to give some respite to the UAE attack. He faced 197 deliveries in total, hitting 17 fours and 3 sixes.

The respite was only temporary however as Joyce completely dominated a third wicket stand of 85 in 112 balls with Niall O'Brien, who made just 13 before giving skipper Tauqir a return catch.

Joyce passed the 200 mark with consecutive boundaries - hitting 4 fours in the space of five balls as he accelerated towards the landmarks rather than slowing down.The undefeated 229 is his highest first-class score, and he will have the 300 mark in his sights when play resumes at 11am.

This was the first day of a journey which Ireland hope will bring them Test status. It was also Head Coach John Bracewell's first day at the helm of the Irish team - there won't be many better than this.

Day 2

IRELAND remain in control of their ICC InterContinental Cup clash with the UAE despite a much improved performance by the visitors on the second day at Malahide.

15 wickets tumbled in complete contrast to the first day, when the bat totally dominated the ball.

Resuming on 420 for 3, Ed Joyce added just two to his overnight 229, before being trapped lbw by Amjad Javed.

Andrew Balbirnie (10) was dismissed in exactly the same manner, and when Gary Wilson (2) and John Mooney (0) went cheaply, Ireland had lost four wickets for the addition of just 11 runs.

Kevin O'Brien (29) and George Dockrell (22*) shared a brief but entertaining stand of 35 for the 8th wicket as Ireland were dismissed just before lunch for 492.

Amjad Javed (4-117) was the pick of the Emiratis attack, with two wickets apiece for Muhammad Naveed (2-75), Fayyaz Ahmed (2-85) and skipper Mohammed Tauqir (2-104).

Openers Asid Iqbal and Amjad Ali survived a new ball burst by Craig Young and Tim Murtagh, before Ali pulled John Mooney to Murtagh at midwicket for a dogged 1 from 31 deliveries.

Iqbal (43) and Saqib Ali (27) added 57 before Craig Young (3-46) removed both in quick succession just before the tea interval.

Swapnil Patil (30) and the vastly experienced Khurram Khan (24) shared another half-century stand, but they too fell shortly after one another, with John Mooney (3-36) accounting for both.

Left-arm spinner George Dockrell (2-47) got in the act dismissing Fayyaz Ahmed (3) and Mohammed Tauqir (0), with Amjad Javed (7) falling to Young inbetween.

At 162 for 8, it seemed as if the Irish would wrap up the first innings before the close of play, but a determined unbroken 9th wicket partnership of 45 halted them in their tracks.

Shaiman Anwar was chiefly responsible for the late resistance, reaching an unbeaten 52 from 82 balls (8 fours, 1 six) when stumps were pulled.

Anwar of course scored a century against Ireland in their epic World Cup clash in Brisbane earlier this year. He found a willing ally in Muhammad Naveed (13*) as UAE reached 207 for 8 - still 136 runs away from saving the follow-on.

With an uncertain weather forecast for Friday, Ireland will be determined to try and clinch on Day 3 tomorrow, but it won't be easy against the resilient UAE batting.

Day 3

IRELAND are just one wicket away from clinching a convincing win against the UAE after the third day of their ICC InterContinental Cup clash at Malahide.

Despite claiming an extra half-hour in an attempt to wrap up the game inside three days, the Irish fell agonisingly short as the UAE finished proceedings on 251 for 9 in their second innings - still needing another 28 runs to make Ireland bat again.

Resuming the day on 207 for 8, the last two UAE first innings wickets just added a further six runs, with Craig Young (4-51) and George Dockrell (3-48) claiming the wickets.

Dockrell's dismissal of Majula Guruge was courtesy of a catch by skipper William Porterfield - his 100th for Ireland.

Porterfield enforced the follow-on with the visitors 279 runs adrift, and left-arm spinner Dockrell was again very much to the fore as he dismissed openers Amjad Ali (28) and Asif Iqbal (12) before the lunch break.

Khurram Khan (10) fell to a sharp slip catch by Ed Joyce off Paul Stirling just after the interval, to leave the Emiratis struggling on 65 for 3.

Swapnil Patil and Saqib Ali - who scored 195 against Ireland in this competition in 2008 - then battened down the hatches to frustrate the Irish attack.

Patil struck 10 boundaries in a determined 63 from 110 balls, sharing a century stand with the obdurate Ali, spread over 231 deliveries.

It was Dockrell who broke their resistance, having Patil smartly stumped by Gary Wilson after a rush of blood saw him charge down the pitch.

Shaiman Anwar (0) fell with no addition to the score, Dockrell (4-93) again the successful bowler, with Andrew Balbirnie taking a sharp chance at short-leg.

The second new ball saw Tim Murtagh (1-22 from 16 overs) take his first wicket of the match, as Fayyaz Ahmed edged behind to Gary Wilson.

Four balls later Craig Young ended Ali's 207 ball occupation of the crease, as Kevin O'Brien held a sharp chance at second slip - the total at the stage 188 for 7.

UAE were still seven wickets down as Ireland claimed the extra 30 minutes, and almost instantly Young trapped Mohammed Tauqir (8).

Paul Stirling (2-31) claimed an lbw verdict against Amjad Javed (36) with just 12 balls remaining in the day, but despite the best efforts of the Irish, UAE's last pair clung on to force the match into a fourth day.

Day 4

IRELAND required just four balls this morning to complete an innings victory against the UAE on the final day of their ICC InterContinentaL Cup clash at Malahide.

After a delayed start of 30 minutes, Craig Young dismissed number 11 Muhammed Naveed - well caught by George Dockrell - with just two runs added to their overnight score.

That took the Bready opening bowler's match haul to 7 for 110 - Dockrell also took seven wickets, at a cost of 141,

Ireland collect the 20 maximum points available to join Namibia at the top of the table. Ireland face Namibia in the next round of the competition later in the year.