West Indies set a mammoth target of 373 runs against Zimbabwe in a Pool B match at Manuka Oval. West Indies opener Chris Gayle today created history by becoming the first batsman to score a double century in the World Cup. In a Pool-B game against Zimbabwe at Canberra, Gayle scored 215 off just 147 balls, comprising 10 fours and 16 sixes, to power the West Indies score 372 for 2 in the alloted 50 overs. Gayle also became the first non-Indian to score a double ton in one day cricket, with the other players being Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma.Marlon Samuels also scored a century today, making 133 off 156 balls. Opting to bat first, the Windies had lost opener Dwayne Smith on the second ball of the first over without any score on the board. But, from there on, it was Gayle and Samuels all the way, who shared 372 runs for the second wicket, the highest ever partnership in the World Cup by any pair. They displaced the Indian duo, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, who had shared 318 runs for the second wicket against Sri Lanka in the 1999 World Cup at England. Samuels remained not out on 133, while Gayle was out caught on the final ball of the innings at 215.