IRELAND’S top order received their punishment for flopping on day one of their Intercontinental Cup match in Dubai by having to wait more than an hour after the match for their transport back to the team hotel.

It was quite an extraordinary scene as the 12th ranked Test match squad stood around in darkness with only the ground security for company while the bus driver, who had arrived ‘only’ 20 minutes late, drove off again because his brother was on board and ICC regulations insist that no-one outside the squad can travel on the team bus.

It completed an almost imperfect day, rescued only by Kevin O’Brien and the tail – the last four wickets more doubling the total and the last two adding 85 to get Ireland to a workable total of 251.

A couple of wayward overs from Boyd Rankin and Peter Chase, however, allowed Scotland to take firm control by the close and if they score another 215 today, with all 10 wickets standing, they will take the first innings lead and Ireland’s reign as I-Cup holders will be over.

Yet, one hour into their final I-Cup match – before their red ball action becomes Test cricket – it was all so different. It was two fours and out for Paul Stirling but captain William Porterfield and Andrew Balbirnie threatened to make it back to centuries in the competition and in double quick time.

Ireland were 73 for one at the first drinks break but in a remarkable turnaround, the introduction of left arm spinner Mark Watt and accurate medium fast Stuart Whittingham reduced Ireland to 84 for four at lunch.

Alarmingly, only John Anderson could say he was undone by a brilliant ball and it was no better in the third hour as Gary Wilson and Simi Singh joined the procession back to the pavilion.

O’Brien, first with Dockrell and then Tim Murtagh and Chase – Rankin got so confident after surviving 24 balls that he called for a changed of bat and two balls later failed to use it as he came down the pitch – finally restored some sort of respectability to the total.

In all O’Brien, patient at first before building to a crescendo with three straight sixes, faced 97 balls in three hours at the crease; he hit only six other boundaries.

His brother, Niall, has arrived back in Dubai and is available for next week’s one-day internationals against Afghanistan.

O’Brien was forced to return home at short notice “for personal reasons” last week but will now have five full days’ preparation before the three-match series begins on Tuesday.