Chris Gayle 215 vs Zimbabwe: Stats highlights of first double century in World Cup cricket history

Chris Gayle hammered a game-changing 215 off 147 deliveries against Zimbabwe in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, thereby shattering wickets galore. Shiamak Unwalla traces some of the statistical highlights of his innings. READ: Chris Gayle scores 200 against Zimbabwe in ICC World Cup 2015

When Chris Gayle gets going, there really is no stopping him. For a long time (almost two years) he was without an ODI double century. Many had said that his days were numbered; indeed the WICB president Dave Cameron practically endorsed the sentiment on Twitter a few days ago. Gayle responded as only he can: by using his willow with the ferocity of an ogre.

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Below are some of the statistical highlights of his innings:

Gayle’s 215 is now the highest score in World Cup history, having gone past Gary Kirsten’s 16-year old record of 188 not out. Below are the highest scores in World Cup history: READ: Chris Gayle registers highest-ever World Cup score

Gayle hit 16 sixes in his innings, thereby joining Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers with the most sixes in an ODI innings. Below are the top five innings with most sixes in ODIs: READ: Chris Gayle score 5th double-century in ODI history

Gayle hit 16 sixes and 10 fours, which is surprisingly only the fifth-highest aggregate for runs scored in boundaries for an ODI innings. Below are the top five aggregates from boundaries scored in an ODI innings: READ: Chris Gayle equals record for most sixes in ODI innings

Gayle’s double century was the fifth in ODI cricket, and the third-highest score in ODI history. Gayle also became the first non-Indian batsman to score an ODI double century. Incidentally, his 215 was the first double ton scored outside India. For the first time all five highest ODI scores are double centuries. Below is the list of the top five highest ODI scores in ODIs: READ: Chris Gayle becomes first non-Indian to score ODI 200

Gayle combined with Marlon Samuels to put on 372 — the highest-ever partnership in ODI history. It was also only the third ever 300-plus partnership in ODI cricket, the first by a non-Indian duo, and the first such partnership that does not involve Rahul Dravid. Below are the five highest partnerships in ODI history: READ: Chris Gayle, Marlon Samuels put on highest-ever ODI partnership

Gayle and Samuels’ effort is also the only 300-plus partnership scored in the 21st century. The 372-run stand is over 100 runs more than the previous best ODI partnership for West Indies — 258 between Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin which came in 2014. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE

The partnership was also the longest in terms of balls faced — 298 legitimate deliveries. They went past Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar’s 278-ball 331-run partnership. Below are the top five longest partnerships in terms of balls faced in ODIs:

West Indies’ innings was also the third-longest team innings featuring only three batsmen. The longest innings was also recorded by West Indies, with Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, and Viv Richards being the protagonists on that occasion. Below are the four longest innings involving only three players:

More records:

– Gayle became the only man in history to score a T20I century, an ODI double ton, and a Test triple hundred. Only Virender Sehwag comes close — he has scored an ODI double and a Test triple, as well as scoring a couple of T20 centuries in IPL. READ: Chris Gayle only man in history to score T20I century, ODI double ton and Test triple hundred

– Gayle’s 215 is the highest-ever ODI score against Zimbabwe.

– Gayle’s 215 came exactly six years — to the day — after Sachin Tendulkar broke the 200-run barrier for the first time in ODI history. Tendulkar’s 200 not out against South Africa was scored on February 24, 2010. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS

– This was the first instance of one batsman scoring over 200 and another scoring over 100 in the same innings in an ODI.

– This was the first time in ODI history that a player scored over 200 and also took a wicket (it is also the only time a player who has scored over 200 has bowled) in the same match.

– Curiously, while only three batsmen batted in the innings — Gayle was dismissed off the final ball of the innings — they scored a duck, a century, and a double hundred between them! ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)