Bray smashed a brilliant ton - his seventh for his country to equal Ivan Anderson's 27-year-old record - off 112 balls, including 19 fours and one six as Phil Simmons' side reached 250 for three at stumps.

Trent Johnston and debutant Thinus Fourie had earlier led the way with figures of four for 12 and three for 31 respectively as the Canada batting line-up crumbled.

Bray then took centre-stage, while at the other end William Porterfield contributed a more leisurely 54 as Ireland strolled past Canada's total with the highest-ever opening partnership in the competition - their 202 obliterating the previous best by 77 runs.

Bray's innings was eventually ended by the off-spin of John Davison, caught at slip by Ashif Mulla for 146. He was swiftly followed back to the pavilion in the next over by opening partner Porterfield, caught behind by Ashish Bagai off Abdool Samad for 54.

Samad also saw off Peter Gillespie leg before wicket for 18 as Canada at least managed to slow down the Irish charge in the final hour.

But it was undeniably Ireland's day, and Canada now have to win outright to land the cup as a draw would see the Irish keep hold of the silverware on the first innings.

Ireland captain Johnston won the toss and opted to bowl, hoping to take advantage of the Canadians' lack of international cricket since their World Cup exit two months ago.

And that's just how it panned out, with only two Canada players managing double figures.

Veteran all-rounder Davison was out to the first ball he faced, trapped lbw by Dave Langford-Smith.

Davison's fellow opener Geoff Barnett did not fare much better, making just four before becoming Johnston's first victim, lbw, to leave Andy Pick's team 11 for two after 10 minutes' play.

That brought Bagai out to the middle to join Samad, with the new skipper looking to rediscover the form which earned him the player of the tournament award at the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 in Nairobi earlier this year.

But the 25-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman did not hang around long enough to find his touch, clean bowled after offering no shot to a Johnston delivery after scoring four.

Fourie, playing in place of Boyd Rankin who has county commitments with Derbyshire, picked up his first wicket - that of Qaiser Ali for nine - thanks to a superb catch at cover by Porterfield.

Johnston struck again shortly afterwards, just when it seemed Samad had set himself. He hit 29 - including six fours - before being dismissed lbw.

Fourie bowled Mulla and Sandeep Jyoti for three and nought respectively as Canada's day went from bad to worse, slumping to 57 for seven.

Kevin O'Brien then got in on the action with two quick wickets to put the Irish even more in the ascendancy.

First he had Trevin Bastiampillai well caught behind by the diving Gary Wilson low to his left for five and he then induced a nick from Austin Codrington - who had not troubled the scorers - which was snapped up by Eoin Morgan at third slip.

Seventy-five for nine at lunch, it did not take long for Ireland to wrap up the Canadian innings after the interval with Henry Osinde caught by Fourie off the bowling of Johnston for eight, leaving Umar Bhatti unbeaten on 22.