Summary He smashed 200 runs on 138 balls while playing against Zimbabwe.
CANBERRA (AFP) - West Indies opener Chris Gayle became the first batsman to score a double century in a World Cup innings when he reached the landmark against Zimbabwe in a Pool B clash in Canberra on Tuesday.
Gayle, who might have been given out lbw before he had scored, brought up his first double century in 226 one-day internationals off just 138 balls including nine fours and 16 sixes.
The 35-year-old Jamaica left-hander s innings surpassed the previous World Cup best of 188 not out by South Africa s Gary Kirsten against the United Arab Emirates at Rawalpindi in 1996.
It was also only the fifth double century in all ODI cricket and the first by a non-Indian, with Rohit Sharma (two), Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag the only other batsmen to achieve the feat.
