Gayle's record double ton flattens Zimbabwe

Gayle's record double ton flattens Zimbabwe

CANBERRA - Chris Gayle smashed the highest ever individual World Cup score of 215 and his first century in 20 months to power the West Indies to 372 for two against Zimbabwe on a record-shattering day at Canberra's Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

West Indies' Chris Gayle celebrates his double century (200 runs) during their Cricket World Cup Pool B match against Zimbabwe, at The Manuka Oval in Canberra, on February 24, 2015

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, eclipsing his previous highest ODI knock of 153 against Zimbabwe in 2003.

Records tumbled as Gayle, who also went past 9,000 ODI runs, bettered South African Gary Kirtsen'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 in an ODI innings.

Gayle's 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (133 not out) was also an all-time ODI record.

It was the big Jamaican's first century in 20 innings since his last ton (109) against Sri Lanka in Kingston in June 2013.

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