Gayle record leads Windies to comfortable win

2015 World Cup

A Chris Gayle double-century, a Marlon Samuels hundred and a world-record partnership. Those were the ingredients towards the West Indies comfortably beating Zimbabwe in their Pool B World Cup clash in Canberra on Tuesday.

After Windies' captain Jason Holder won the toss and elected to bat, they were on the back foot very early as opening batsman Dwayne Smith was bowled off the second ball of the match by seamer Tinashe Panyangara.

Samuels, batting at number three, then joined Gayle at the crease and initially both batsman were just content to bat time and occupy the crease.

As he got into his stride, Gayle was looking to be more positive and brought up his fifty off 51 balls, while Samuels, at this point just playing the anchor role, brought up his half-century off 95 balls.

The two Jamaicans practically batted right through the innings, as they set a new ODI world-record partnership of 372, before Gayle was out last ball of the innings for a majestic 215 off 147 balls, including 16 sixes.

Samuels ended the innings unbeaten on 133 off 147 balls, but the day belonged to Gayle, who scored the first double-century in World Cup history and the quickest double-ton in ODIs, as the West Indies amassed 372 for two in their 50 overs.

In the chase, Zimbabwe were always behind the run-rate and never really threatened the target. After a short break because of rain, the target was reduced to 363 from 48 overs.

Sean Williams (76) and Craig Ervine (52) were the only two Zimbabwe batsmen to reach fifties, as most of the top-order got starts but could not convert. They were eventually bowled out for 289 in the 45th over.

For the West Indies, fast bowler Jerome Taylor took three for 38 in 10 overs, while captain Holder weighed in with three for 48 in seven overs. Man of the Match Gayle completed a good day all-round by chipping in with two wickets.

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