[www.inewsguyana.com] – Fast bowlers Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder snatched three wickets piece as West Indies beat a spirited Zimbabwe by 73 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method, to post their second straight win of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia on Tuesday.
Defending their world record 372 for two, West Indies restricted Zimbabwe to 289 all out off 44.3 overs, with Taylor finishing with three for 38 and captain Holder, three for 48.
Chris Gayle followed up his whirlwind record-breaking double hundred by grabbing two for 35, to predictably capture the Man-of-the-Match award.
The target was reduced 363 from 48 overs following a rain stoppage early in the innings but Zimbabwe were unfazed throughout, launching a brave run chase before coming up short.
Sean Williams led the spirited Zimbabwe charge, top scoring with 76 off 61 balls while Craig Ervine struck an equally gallant 52 off 41 deliveries.
Brendan Taylor chimed in with 37 and Sikandar Raza got 26, but once the African side began to lose wickets, the run chase became derailed.
Earlier, Gayle smashed the first ever World Cup double century and the fastest in one-dayers, as West Indies powered their way to the fifth highest total in World Cup history.
The left-hander finished on a career best 215 off 147 deliveries – his 22nd one-day hundred – while Marlon Samuels carved out unbeaten 133.
Gayle combined with Samuels to decimate the Zimbabwe attack in a phenomenal second wicket stand of 372 – an all-time record for any wicket in One-Day Internationals.
Overall, Gayle counted ten fours and an incredible 16 sixes, en route to a double century off a mere 138 deliveries. He became the only the fourth batsman to score an ODI double and the first non-Indian.
Samuels, meanwhile, faced 156 balls and hit 11 fours and three sixes. (CMC)
