Cricket: Scotland's John Blain hit a career-best 93 as Ireland and the visitors continued to struggle for supremacy on the second day of their Intercontinental Cup clash in Belfast.
The former Yorkshire seamer's heroics enabled the Scots to reach a challenging 314 on a difficult Stormont wicket.
However, despite losing four early wickets, Ireland had fought back to reach 179 for four by the close, an unbroken stand of 120 runs between Niall O'Brien and Andre Botha giving the hosts a slight advantage.
After Scotland had toiled to reach 183 for seven on Thursday, Blain and Simon Smith showed a little more adventure on the second morning.
Smith reached 40 — his highest first class score —
before being trapped in front by leg-spinner Greg Thompson, having
helped Blain add 79 valuable runs for the eighth wicket.
That was the only morning success for the Irish as Scotland added exactly 100 runs in the first session with Blain moving doggedly to 71 with the help of one glorious six over extra cover off Thompson.
Worcestershire bowler Dewald Nel was another willing partner for Blain as a 60-run stand provided further frustration for Ireland.
Nel, having made 22 from 69 balls, was eventually adjudged lbw to Kevin O'Brien who was the home side's most successful bowler with four for 38.
The seamer's final act was to deny Blain what would have been a deserved century when the Scot holed out to Thompson, having faced a marathon 259 balls and hit eleven boundaries and two sixes.
Ireland were then reduced to 59 for four as Nel and Craig Wright both struck twice but Northamptonshire wicketkeeper-batsman O'Brien led the recovery with a superb unbeaten 83.
He survived one difficult chance early on but went on to plunder 14 boundaries while Botha provided excellent support with 53 not out.
Ireland need 136 more runs to take the first-innings bonus points when play resumes tomorrow morning.