Amy Hunter loves the Harare Sports Club. On the ground where she scored her first century for Ireland on her 16^th birthday, she added a second on Friday (aged 18 and 107 days) as Ireland won the first T20 international against Zimbabwe by 57 runs.

Indeed, Hunter and Gaby Lewis’ record-breaking opening partnership of 138 was four more than the Zimbabwe total.

Hunter batted through the innings to finish 101 not out – she was on 99 with one ball to go – having faced just 66 balls. She hit 13 fours and a six.

The Belfast-born protégé, already with 49 caps, dominated the strike early on and although she brought up her 50 from 43 balls, Lewis followed her to the landmark – her 20^th half-century for Ireland, eight more than anyone else – from just 36 deliveries.

The duo passed the previous best T20 partnership of 113 in just the 13^th over but Lewis faced only three more balls before she fell over playing a slog sweep and was leg before for 56, which included 10 fours.

Orla Prendergast and Rebecca Stokell then perished in the search of quick runs but skipper Laura Delany fed Hunter the strike in the final over to see Ireland’s star batter to her hundred and an invincible total of 191 for three.

The Zimbabwe openers did add 38 from the first 34 balls but Alana Dalzell made the breakthough and added a second with the final ball of her last over – her spell unbroken - to reduce the hosts to 50 for two.

The rest of the attack always had the chase under control and Georgina Dempsey also claimed two wickets and Cara Murray the other. But this was another day in Harare that belonged to Amy Hunter.