Harry Tector continued his extraordinary run of form with an unbeaten century as Ireland romped to a five-wicket victory over the USA in their first official warm-up match in Zimbabwe ahead the World Cup qualifiers.

Ireland used seven bowlers, including three spinners, as the US posted an impressive 312-6 in Bulawayo, and the Boys in Green were struggling on 7-2 before Tector, Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker took a grip of the run chase.

Tector, the YMCA batter who is ranked No 7 in the world in ODIs, added 87 for the third wicket with Stirling and a further 122 with Tucker, as his 149 not out from 123 balls saw Ireland to victory with 4.5 overs to spare.

There will be no more prized wicket than Tector’s among any of the 10 teams competing over the next four weeks for the final two places at the 50-overs World Cup, to be played later this year in India.

The 23-year-old voted ICC Mens Player of the Month for May, struck 10 fours and seven sixes in yesterday’s  innings and has surpassed even Stirling, who made a solid 55 against the US, as the man every opposition team wants to see back in the pavilion. 

Wicketkeeper Tucker, the third key batter in the Ireland line-up, struck two sixes in a breezy 68.

Head coach Heinrich Malan gave an insight into his thinking ahead of Monday’s first Group match against Oman by opening the batting with Andy McBrine but the off-spinning all-rounder was caught behind for four.

Andy Balbirnie’s horror run continued when he fell for two in the second over and maybe the skipper needs to swap places with McBrine who was successful at No 3 in the West Indies last year. The alternative is to open with PJ Moor.

Malan would have been delighted to see Barry McCarthy get through nine overs - albeit expensive ones - on his return from injury, while leggie Ben White was the only bowler to send down a full quota of 10.