Double-ton Gayle leads Windies past Zimbabwe

CANBERRA: Chris Gayle smashed the highest ever individual World Cup score of 215 and his first century in 20 months as the West Indies flattened Zimbabwe on a record-shattering day in Canberra on Tuesday.

The Caribbean entertainers amassed 372 for two after winning the toss and then bowled Zimbabwe out for 289 chasing a revised 363 to win the rain-reduced match by 73 runs at Manuka Oval.

Man-of-the-match Gayle, 35, clubbed a record-equalling 16 sixes including three in a row, to cash in after a huge let-off on the first ball he faced and was eventually out off the final ball of the innings.

Gayle also eclipsed his previous highest one-day international knock of 153 not out against Zimbabwe in 2003.

Records tumbled as Gayle, who also went past 9,000 ODI runs, bettered South African Gary Kirsten´s previous highest World Cup score of 188 not out against the UAE in Rawalpindi in 1996.

Only India´s Rohit Sharma with 264 and Virender Sehwag (219) have scored more runs than the explosive West Indian left-hander in an ODI innings.
Gayle´s 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (133 not out) was also an all-time ODI record.

The 35-year-old Gayle´s double-century came off just 138 balls and this innings was his first three-figure score since he made 109 against Sri Lanka at his Sabina Park home ground Kingston in June 2013.

"It´s been a lot of pressure, the runs haven´t been coming and this is the first time ever in my career," said Gayle during the mid-innings break.

"So many people wanted me to score runs and the messages kept coming in on Twitter and in the end I am glad to have given them something to actually cheer about," he added after his 22nd century in 226 ODIs.

Gayle turned around the West Indies innings with Samuels after the second-ball dismissal of fellow opener Dwayne Smith.

Samuels innings was comparatively more sedate compared to Gayle´s whirlwind knock, his 133 not out coming off 156 balls with 11 fours and three sixes.