Chris Gayle bludgeoned a World Cup-record 215 containing 16 sixes and shared a 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels in a stunning return to form on Tuesday to guide the West Indies to a 73-run win over Zimbabwe.
Under intense pressure after failing to score a one-day international century since June 2013, Gayle had a reprieve when he survived an lbw appeal decision on the first ball he faced from Tinashe Panyangara.
The 35-year-old Jamaican recovered quickly, surpassing Gary Kirsten's 188 against United Arab Emirates in 1996 as the highest score in the World Cup before he was caught on the last ball of the innings. He and Samuels (133 not out) lifted West Indies from 0-1 to 372-2, which was far beyond the Zimbabwe's reach. Gayle took two wickets as Zimbabwe was bowled out for 289 chasing a revised target of 263 under the Duckworth-lewis method after two overs were lost to rain.
Sean Williams scored 76 and Craig Ervine hit 52 for Zimbabwe, while opening bowlers Jerome Taylor (3-38) and Jason Holder (3-48) took three wickets each for the West Indies.
“It was a fantastic day for me from a personal point of view and from a team it was good overall result,” Gayle said. “It's been a while. Gayle's 147-ball knock also contained 10 boundaries and was the fastest double-hundred — and only the fifth overall — in an ODI.
His partnership with Samuels also was a record for any wicket in the 50-over format. Gayle's 16 sixes equaled the record for most in an ODI innings, level with South Africa skipper AB de Villiers' mark against the West Indies in Johannesburg last month and Rohit Sharma's tally against Australia in 2013.
He was on the attack for most of the innings, but cautious when he got close to his 22nd ODI hundred, moving through the 90s mostly in singles. After clearing that hurdle, he smashed a six to move to 107 from 108 balls.
The Zimbabwe bowlers had no answers to his onslaught, and had setbacks when Gayle was caught from a no-ball at long-on while on 121 and caught again in the deep off the subsequent free hit in an eventful start to the 40th over.
It wasn't until the last ball of the innings that he skied a catch off Hamilton Masakadza (1-39), who was brought in to bowl the last two deliveries after two consecutive above-the-waist no balls from Tendai Chatara.
Gayle said he needed the lucky break he got from his early reprieve when he was hit on the pads, in front, to a ball that may have gone over the stumps. Umpire Steve Davis gave him not out, but Zimbabwe reviewed the decision and replays showed it was a very, very close call which the third umpire gave in Gayle’s favour.
“There's been a lot of pressure. The runs haven't been coming,” Gayle said. “In the end I am sure I gave (the fans and critics) something to talk about.” On the lbw decision, Gayle said, “When I looked at the replay I was like: 'Oh, you're kidding me ... Come on idiot, not again.” But after getting the review in his favour, he told himself: “‘listen I've got to take the bull by its horns.’ Then everything started.” Samuels played an anchor role, hitting 11 fours and three sixes. He did have a let off in the 17th over, when he was dropped on 27.