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.

After winning the toss, Ireland were bowled out in 86 overs for 316 and it could have been worse if the Hong Kong fielders had held their catches.

Porterfield was dropped at second slip on 27 and went on to score 88 while John Anderson and Kevin O'Brien also enjoyed 'lives' although they were both dismissed shortly afterwards.

It was left to Gary Wilson, who wasn't even sure of his place in the team when the squad was announced, to get Ireland through the majority of the evening session after four wickets had fallen in a hectic afternoon when 136 runs were scored in 37 overs.

Wilson had matched Porterfield's score - already his highest in the I-Cup - when last man Peter Chase came to the middle and despite turning down singles early in the overs to try and shepherd the strike, it was the Surrey batsman who was out to the first ball of an over, five short of what would have been only his second 100 for Ireland.

The Irish surprised most observers when they announced that Barry McCarthy, who has taken 14 wickets in his first seven one-day internationals, was surplus to requirements for the four-day match and George Dockrell's extra experience and success in the competition saw him preferred to Donemana's Andy McBrine, now recognised as the team's No 1 slow bowler.

His omission was even more surprising when the ball started turning sharply almost immediately for slow left armer Nadeem Ahmed and off spinner Eshan Khan.

Ed Joyce was averaging 94 in the competition after his first eight games and had only once failed to reach 26 but having reached that score he edged to slip and Ireland's star batsman was back in the pavilion inside the first hour.

Spin was introduced in the 21st over and off the last ball of Eshan's first over, Anderson was missed at short-leg. It was a sign of things to come as the Ireland batsmen failed to cope with the turning ball.

Anderson was adjudged lbw - much to his disbelief - in the off-spinner's next over and then it proved trial by left arm spin as Nadeem bowled 26 consecutive overs from the Dundonald end.

Niall O'Brien, in his first match after being released by Leicestershire, was another trapped in front in Nadeem's third over after lunch, Paul Stirling, in his now familiar middle-order role in four-day cricket, was caught behind and Porterfield finally succumbed, again beaten by the turn.

There was still time before tea for Kevin O'Brien to be dropped at first slip and caught at second slip in the space of five deliveries from Nadeem who at that stage had figures of four for 53 and Ireland in peril on 208 for six.

Wilson, still showing supreme confidence despite losing his place in the Surrey team, was then joined by Dockrell whose last innings was a century for Leinster Lightning last week.

Together they added what could be an invaluable 65 before opening bowler Tanwir Afzal returned to have Dockrell caught behind.

The new ball accounted for the last three wickets, including Wilson, but despite having seven overs, the Ireland bowlers could make no impression. It could be a fascinating contest today.