Tim Murtagh topped and tailed the Hong Kong second innings in Belfast yesterday to bowl Ireland to a 70-run victory and send the defending champions 19 points clear at the top of the InterContinental Cup after four of seven matches.

THEY didn’t make it easy for themselves but the sun shone all day for Ireland to complete a seventh straight win in the Intercontinental Cup and seal another maximum points victory to consolidate their position at the top of the table.

Ireland maintained their 100% Intercontinental Cup record at Stormont on Friday with a solid 70-run win over Hong Kong despite a defiant century from the visitors' Nizakat Khan.

Ireland will be relying on some help from above at Stormont as they bid to complete a fourth straight victory in this year's Intercontinental Cup.

IRELAND remain on top against Hong Kong in their InterContinental Cup clash at Stormont despite 45 overs being lost in the day due to a combination of rain and bad light on a stop-start day.

George Dockrell stuck to his task on a tough day in Belfast and was rewarded with three late wickets as Ireland grabbed a first innings lead of 79 runs against Hong Kong to ensure the defending champions will move back to the top of the InterContinental Cup table.

HONG Kong kept Ireland in the field for more than 100 overs but the Intercontinental Cup holders secured a first-innings lead of 79 to regain top spot in the table which will decide which team goes through to the Test Match challenge in 2018.

Ireland have seized the initiative on Day 2 of their Intercontinental Cup clash against Hong Kong at Stormont after William Porterfield's men bowled the visitors out for 237 just before the close.

Ireland did not have it all their own way on the opening day of their Intercontinental Cup clash with Hong Kong at Stormont as William Porterfield and Gary Wilson both just missed out on centuries.

Gary Wilson and William Porterfield gave Ireland a solid start to their crucial four-day game against Hong Kong at Stormont on Tuesday as John Bracewell's charges eyed the chance to go top of the Intercontinental Cup table

Ireland captain William Porterfield was forced to watch his Warwickshire team-mates play their Royal London Cup semi-final on television yesterday but he is happy to make the sacrifice to help his international colleagues reach the Test match arena.

Scotland and the UAE took 7 points each from their washed-out Intercontinental Cup clash

As expected, the elements were the only winners on the second day of Scotland's Intercontinental cup match against the UAE.

Shaiman Anwar and Rameez Shahzad helped the UAE recover from early wickets against Scotland, but the weather looks likely to have the last word.

Afghanistan delivered the Dutch a comprehensive drubbing, winning their I-Cup tie by an innings in two days despite the efforts of Michael Rippon.

Afghanistan's seamers bundled the Nethelands out for just 117 on day one of their Intercontinental Cup match in Voorburg,

Top position in the Intercontinental Cup will be up for grabs when the Netherlands and Afghanistan meet at Voorburg on Friday.

Tomorrow sees the Netherlands welcome Afghanistan to Voorburg for a much-anticipated 4-day Intercontinental Cup clash.

How the sides line up for tomorrow's Intercontinental Cup clash between the Netherlands and Afghanistan

Tomorrow sees the Netherlands welcome Afghanistan to Voorburg for a much-anticipated 4-day Intercontinental Cup clash.

Selections for the upcoming Intercontinental Cup match against Afghanistan and WCLC fixtures against Nepal see a call-up for Shane Snater and a recall for Tim Gruijters.

IRELAND’S quest for Test status moved a step closer after they completed a 145 run win on the final day of their ICC InterContinental Cup clash against a determined Papua New Guinea side in Townsville.

A CENTURY stand between Kevin O'Brien and Andy McBrine has put Ireland in a strong position going into the final day of their InterContinental Cup clash with Papua New Guinea in Townsville.

IRELAND remain in the ascendancy after the second day of their ICC InterContinental Cup clash with Papua New Guinea in Townsville.

NIALL O'BRIEN'S half century has given Ireland a slight advantage after the first day of the InterContinental Cup clash with Papua New Guinea in Townsville.

IRELAND will be without Stuart Thompson for their ICC InterContinental Cup clash with Papua New Guinea this weekend.

IRELAND'S quest for Test status continues this weekend as they play their third match in the ICC InterContinental Cup against Papua New Guinea in Townsville.

BOYD RANKIN will return to competitive action with Ireland this weekend - four years after his last appearance during the 2012 T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Hong Kong and Scotland took 10 points each as wintry conditions at Mong Kok prevented any play for the fourth day running.

The Netherlands recorded their first away I-Cup victory in 8 years, overcoming a third-day fightback from the UAE to go top of the table.

The third day of Scotland's Intercontinental Cup tie against Hong Kong again saw no play.

There was again no play on the second scheduled day of Hong Kong's Intercontinental Cup tie against Scotland.

Shaiman Anwar's rearguard century denies the Netherlands a two-day victory, but the Dutch remain on top and Abu Dhabi.

A wet outfield and persistently gloomy conditions prevented any play on the first day of Hong Kong's Intercontinental Cup tie against Scotland.

PRESTON Mommsen insisted his side are intent on kick-starting their Intercontinental Cup campaign when they take part in an historic clash with Hong Kong over the next four days.

The Netherlands dominated the first day of the Intercontinental Cup match against the UAE at Abu Dhabi, bowling their hosts out for 164 and putting on 158-3 before stumps.

Ireland have named a full strength squad for their upcoming ICC InterContinental Cup clash with Papua New Guinea next month.

The ICC has announced the third round schedule of the Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League Championship.

Afghanistan beat Papua New Guinea in a see-saw Intercontinental Cup match.

Hong Kong get their first Intercontinental Cup win after beating the UAE in Dubai.

The reigning champions open up a 14-point gap at the top of the Intercontinental Cup table after defeating Namibia by an innings and 107 runs.

IRELAND moved to the top of the InterContinental Cup table after completing an innings win over Namibia in Windhoek.

TIM MURTAGH’S new ball burst took Ireland to the brink of an innings victory, but a determined rear-guard action late in the evening by Namibia ensured their InterContinental Cup game went into a final day in Windhoek.

Ed Joyce and William Porterfield both scored centuries as Ireland completely dominated the second day of their InterContinental Cup clash with Namibia in Windhoek.

Ireland will be the happier of the two teams despite a stubborn last wicket stand at the end of the first day in Windhoek.

Namibia and Ireland go head to head in their Intercontinental Cup match in Windhoek.

Still in the balance at lunch on the final day, the Intercontinental Cup match in Voorburg was decided in just five overs after the interval.

The Dutch took first-innings points on Thursday, but a series of fightbacks by both attacks and some less than impressive batting left Scotland needing 149 for the win and the Netherlands needing seven wickets.

After having been dismissed for 210 by Scotland, a fine display of bowling by the Netherlands reduced their visitors to 35 for six by the close.

No play was possible on the opening day of the Intercontinental Cup match between the Netherlands and Scotland.

The Netherlands and Scotland squads for next week's Intercontinental Cup fixture at Voorburg have been announced

The Scottish selectors have announced their squad to compete in the ICC Intercontinental Cup fixture in Voorburg against the Netherlands (8-11 September).

Papua New Guinea bested the Dutch on day three of their first Intercontinental Cup match, courtesy and exemplary century from Asad Vala.

The Netherland's Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea looks likely to be decided tomorrow after 16 more wickets fell on day two.

The Netherlands had the best of the first day of their Intercontinental Cup tie against Papua New Guinea, despite being bowled out in two sessions.

Ireland needed just four deliveries to wrap up an innings-and-26-run victory in the first match of their ICup campaign.

Preston Mommsen praised his weather-weary troops after they claimed a moral victory in their rain-jinxed I-Cup clash with Afghanistan.

Scotland dodged the showers to put themselves in with an excellent chance of claiming the first innings bonus points from their I-Cup clash with Afghanistan.

Scotland took the initiative on the third day reducing Afghanistan to 96 for 8 to lead by 137 runs as the match goes into the final day.

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.

Scotland's hopes of launching their Intercontinental Cup campaign with a crucial victory suffered with the loss of late wickets.

CRAIG Young kept Ireland in control of their Intercontinental Cup match in Malahide with three wickets despite an impressive UAE comeback.

Late wickets swung the game in Afghanistan’s favour as Scotland stuttered on the second day of their ICC Intercontinental Cup campaign in Stirling.

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.