A slight anti-climax as Gayle can only club the first ball of the last over for two. But Samuels makes up for it with a six over cow corner next ball. A single takes him to 132 and brings Gayle back on strike.

Tim Gavel
BBC Test Match Special

"There was a picture on the TV then of Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore putting his hands into his face..."

Panyangara goes round the wicket, Samuels takes aim at long-off again but the ball is cut out on the rope and they can only run two. Panyangara's last ball is a half-volley - which Samuels smacks for six over the bowler's head.

That over: 460426. Gayle to face the last over.

Janaarthanan N:, external Chris Gayle is a monster.

Marlon Samuels hammers a full toss down the ground and then finally comes to the six-hitting party by swatting Panyangara over extra cover. Another full toss is whacked to wide long-off, but it bounces just in front of the fielder and away for four more.

Gayle is still struggling to get the strike here, while Zimbabwe's raggedness is exemplified by the fact that Chatara's number is about to fall off the back of his shirt.

As the score reaches 332, this stand is now the highest one-day international partnership for any wicket, anywhere. We are seeing history being made.

Samuels guides Chatara for a four off his legs to bring up his own century - he's been an unconvincing support act to Gayle's Academy Awards show, but his hundred arrives off 143 balls. (Gayle, at this stage, has scored 207 from 141).

Rob Meech:, external Chris Gayle has answered his critics in emphatic fashion. Incredible hitting.

Panyangara returns, he's still struggling with his line and flings down another couple of wides - Samuels still isn't looking as fluent as we know he can be, but there's a big cheer when he gets the single he needs to get Gayle on strike. Panyangara runs in... and doesn't release the ball. Does he have a case of the yips? Another no-ball takes the total of extra deliveries this innings to 19 (16 wides, three no-balls) - Zimbabwe are doing themselves no favours in that department. At least they kept Gayle off strike for most of the over.

Jack Butcher:, external There's a Gayle force wind blowing in Canberra and Zimbabwe are getting battered by it...

Four more to Gayle off the last ball. Four overs left.

Neil Manthorp
BBC Test Match Special

"Bear in mind that he averaged 19 in one-day cricket for the last two years. It has been 20 innings since his last one-day century."

Image source, Reuters

And now it's 200 up for Gayle, who whacks another six over mid-wicket - his 16th - and then steers the four he needed to reach his maiden ODI double hundred - this time he sinks to his knees in celebration, and his wide grin is in contrast to his muted celebrations earlier.

For Zimbabwe, pace didn't work, spin didn't work, so it's back to pace again with Chatara, but they are getting flogged here.

Image source, Getty Images

Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special

"It's exhilarating to watch but painful for the Zimbabweans."

Listen to ball-by-ball TMS commentary by clicking on the 'Live Coverage' tab.

Williams is trying to bowl as flat as possible but Gayle gets under it again, and it's a third successive six into the stands - this time measured at 95m. A single takes the left-hander to 190 from 135 balls. Samuels manages a single to take the score to 300 - but Zimbabwe may be relieved he'll be on strike at the start of the next over.

Gayle, by the way, has now overtaken Gary Kirsten's 188 not out for South Africa against the United Arab Emirates in 1996.

Samuels obliges with a single, and Gayle tucks into the left-arm spin of Williams with two successive sixes which are slog-swept over the leg side. 183 from 133 balls for master blaster Gayle.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Chris Gayle is now extending his own record for most sixes in a World Cup innings (currently 12). The previous best was David Miller's nine - also against Zimbabwe in this tournament.

The ODI record of 16 is held jointly by India's Rohit Sharma (against Australia in Bangalore in 2013) and South Africa's AB de Villiers (against West Indies in January).

Image source, AP

Unsurprisingly, Chigumbura takes a rest after that horrendous last over - and leg-spinner Tafadzwa Kamungozi is brought back on. Time for the crowd to get their tin hats on - and a huge six over the grassy bank at cow corner takes Gayle to his highest ODI score. That's 11 sixes for the innings, before he crashes another four through the leg side. Better make that 12 sixes, Kamungozi is getting some punishment here and he's lifted over the ropes again, this time over square leg. A first-bounce four past long-on means the over ends 6464 and Gayle has 171 from 131 balls. Six overs left, and this is now the third highest second-wicket stand in all ODIs.

Kevin Williams:, external Kandiah Thirugnansampandapillai Francis (umpire KT Francis).

Image source, Getty Images

And after that Chigumbura over, maybe spin could be the answer after all - so Sean Williams is summoned back into the attack. Finally there's a slightly wider smile from Gayle as a slog-swept two takes him to the 150 mark from 126 balls. In fact, it's the fourth time he's passed 150 - but he's never scored more than 153.