CANBERRA, Australia (AP):

Chris Gayle slammed a World Cup-record 215 containing 16 sixes and shared a 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels in a stunning return to form yesterday to guide the West Indies to a 73-run win over Zimbabwe.

Under intense pressure after failing to score a one-day international century since June 2013, Gayle had a reprieve when he survived a leg before wicket appeal on the first ball he faced from Tinashe Panyangara.

"When I looked at the replay I was like: 'Oh, you're kidding me ... Come on idiot, not again,'" Gayle said. Zimbabwe reviewed the umpire's not-out decision, but the batsman got the benefit of the doubt. After a moment of relief, Gayle told himself: "'Listen I've got to take the bull by its horns.' Then everything started."

The 35-year-old Jamaican surpassed Gary Kirsten's 188 against United Arab Emirates in 1996 as the highest score in the World Cup before he was caught on the last ball of the innings. He and Samuels (133 not out) lifted West Indies from 0-1 to 372-2, which was far beyond the Zimbabwe's reach. Gayle then took two wickets and a catch as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 289 chasing a revised target of 263 under the Duckworth-Lewis method after two overs were lost to rain.

Sean Williams scored 76 and Craig Ervine hit 52 for Zimbabwe, while opening bowlers Jerome Taylor (3-38) and Jason Holder (3-48) took three wickets each for the West Indies."It was a fantastic day for me from a personal point of view and from a team it was good overall result," Gayle said. "It means a lot. It's been a while since I made runs.

"I hope this is the start of a new beginning."

Gayle's 147-ball knock also contained 10 boundaries and was the fastest double-hundred - and only the fifth overall - in an ODI.

His partnership with Samuels also was a record for any wicket in the 50-over format.

Gayle's 16 sixes equalled the record for most in an ODI innings, level with South Africa skipper AB de Villiers' mark against the West Indies in Johannesburg last month and Rohit Sharma's tally against Australia in 2013. And the score was the third highest, behind Rohit Sharma's 264 and Virender Sehwag's 219, in ODIs.

The West Indies were heavily criticised after a surprising four-wicket loss to Ireland in their opening match, but rebounded well to thrash 1992 champion Pakistan by 150 runs on the weekend and have moved to second spot in Pool B with back-to-back victories ahead of a Friday (Thursday night Ja time) match against South Africa.