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West Indies' Chris Gayle hits first double century in Cricket World Cup history
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Chris Gayle rediscovered his mojo in spectacular fashion with the highest individual innings in a World Cup match, his 215 helping West Indies to a 73-run victory over Zimbabwe in their Pool B clash.
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The masterblaster opener slugged 16 sixes – equalling the ODI record – as well as 10 fours in the 147-ball innings, which formed the large part of an ODI record 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (133).
The 35-year-old was dismissed with the last ball of the innings trying for a 17th six but only succeeding in holing out in the deep as West indies closed on 372-2.
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Zimbabwe had their run-chase trimmed to 363 from 48 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain briefly interrupted the contest and they initially made a good fist of it.
Brendan Taylor was unfortunate to be dismissed for 37 after a third umpire referral and the middle order batsmen Sean Williams (76) and Craig Ervine (52) also put in good shifts.
When Gayle , who took two for 35, returned with the ball to dismiss Ervine and Stuart Matsikenyeri (19) with his off-spin, however, the writing was on the wall for Zimbabwe and they were all out for 289 in the 45th over.
The match had started well for the Zimbabwe with Tinashe Panyangara bowling Dwayne Smith for a duck with the second ball of the innings and coming within a whisker of dismissing Gayle lbw in the same over.
But, under fire after a poor run of form, Gayle made the most of his reprieve even if the stifling of his aggressive instincts meant his 22nd one-day century was by no means the most fluent of his career.
Once he reached the milestone with the first ball of the batting powerplay, however, he punished the Zimbabwean bowlers as only he can, smashing the ball around the ground almost at will.
He had brought up his 50 and century with singles but it was a four off Tendai Chatara that he reached the historic double century in the 46th over, Gayle becoming the first non-Indian to achieve the feat.
Samuels, meanwhile, was caution personified for most of his 156-ball innings until finally cutting loose as the Zimbabwean bowlers wilted in the face of the flogging they were receiving from Gayle.
