Zimbabwe ravaged by Gayle’s record double century
Print Edition
CHRIS Gayle rediscovered his mojo in spectacular fashion yesterday with the first ever World Cup double century to drive West Indies to a 73-run victory over Zimbabwe in their Pool B clash at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
The opener’s 215 was the highest individual innings in a World Cup match, the third highest in any one-day international, and formed the large part of a 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels (133 not out), also an one-day record.
The dreadlocked 35-year-old slugged 16 sixes — tying the one-day record — as well as 10 fours in his 147-ball knock and even though he was dismissed with the last ball of the innings, West Indies were set fair at 372 for two. Zimbabwe had its run-chase trimmed to 363 from 48 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain briefly interrupted the contest and it initially made a good fist of it.
Brendan Taylor was unfortunate to be dismissed for 37 after a controversial third umpire referral and middle order batsmen Sean Williams (76) and Craig Ervine (52) also put in good shifts. When Gayle (2-35) returned with the ball to dismiss Ervine and Stuart Matsikenyeri (19) with his offspin, however, the writing was on the wall for Zimbabwe and it was all out for 289 in the 45th over.
After starting their campaign with an embarrassing upset at the hands of Ireland, West Indies look on course for a place in the quarterfinals after impressive wins over Pakistan and now Zimbabwe. The match had started well for the Africans with Tinashe Panyangara bowling Dwayne Smith for a duck on the second ball and coming within a whisker of dismissing Gayle lbw in the same over.
“I didn’t want to be out with the first ball — I said ‘you can’t be serious?’” he said. “I was under pressure to score runs, and I kept getting messages from Twitter and on my cell phone from fans. I have never known so many people wanting Chris Gayle to do so well.”
Gayle made the most of the reprieve even if the stifling of his aggressive instincts meant his 22nd one-day century was by no means the most fluent of his career. Once he reached the milestone with the first ball of the batting powerplay, however, he punished the Zimbabwean bowlers as only he can, smashing the ball around the ground almost at will.
He had brought up his 50 and century with singles but it was with a four that he reached the historic double century in the 46th over, the first non-Indian to achieve the feat.
Gayle’s record-shattering innings came just days after he was caught up in an embarrassing Twitter gaffe by West Indies Cricket Board President Dave Cameron, who retweeted a post calling for the batsman to be pensioned off. “I have never felt this kind of pressure, but in the end, I am sure I gave them something to talk about,” said Gayle.
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