WC 2015 WI vs ZIM: Chris Gayle becomes first batsman to score double century in World Cup

Canberra: It can now safely be said that West Indies star batsman Chris Gayle is back in form with a huge milestone at the grandest stage of them all – ICC Cricket World Cup. After remaining in terrible ODI form with only one half-century in his last 19 innings, Gayle has hammered his name into the record books to become the first batsman to score a double century in the World Cup.

The Jamaican opener whacked nine boundaries and 16 sixes in his 200 off just 138 deliveries against Zimbabwe in their World Cup match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval on Tuesday.

His six off spinner Sean Williams in the 45^th over saw him surpass the previous individual World Cup best of 188 not out by South Africa's Gary Kirsten against the United Arab Emirates at Rawalpindi in 1996. Gayle was eventually out off the last ball of the innings, having faced 147 balls, with 10 fours and 16 sixes with his team on 372-2.

If that’s not enough, Gayle also becomes the first non-Indian batsman to score a double century after Sachin Tendulkar (200 not out against South Africa), Rohit Sharma (209 against Australia and 264* vs Sri Lanka) and Virender Sehwag (219 against West Indies). His tally of sixes equalled the record for the most in an ODI innings held jointly by South Africa's AB de Villiers and India's Rohit Sharma.

Here are the doubles centuries in descending order:

264- Rohit Sharma (India vs Sri Lanka, Kolkata, 2014)

219- Virender Sehwag (India vs West Indies, Indore, 2011)

215- Chris Gayle (West Indies vs Zimbabwe, Canberra, 2015)

209- Rohit Sharma (India vs Australia, Bangalore, 2013)

200- Sachin Tendulkar (India vs South Africa, Gwalior, 2010)

Read: Rohit Sharma's historic double-hundred powers India to a huge win

Gayle and Marlon Samuels, who scored 133 not out himself, also set a new partnership record for any ODI wicket. Their unbroken stand of 371 surpassed the 331 shared by India's Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar against New Zealand at Hyderabad (Deccan) in 1999 and took the West Indies to a huge total of 372 for two at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

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Chris Gayle's first hundred during the match was workmanlike but his second ton was calculated bludgeoning at its finest. Take a bow Gayle, the part awaits you!