Contentious Hawk Eye projection saves Gayle

Chris Gayle's record-breaking double century against Zimbabwe came after he benefitted from a questionable Hawk Eye ruling from the very first ball he faced.

With the Windies already 1-1 after Dwayne Smith was bowled by Tinashe Panyangara on the second ball of the match, Gayle was struck on the pad first ball.

Umpire Steve Davis gave Gayle not out but Zimbabwe reviewed the decision and initial replays showed the delivery from Panyangara to be pitching in line and hitting Gayle's pad in front of the stumps and on the lower half of the knee roll.

Image Id: ~/media/019C10CFCE964EB4BF95BDFC4ED0E6A3

The ball pitched and hit Gayle on line with the stumps

Commentators Shane Warne and Pommie Mbangwa were convinced that Davis's original decision would be overturned and Gayle sent on his way.

But the Hawk Eye ball-tracking system projected the ball would have just clipped the top of the stumps, meaning the original decision was upheld and Gayle survived.

The West Indies opener was batting out of his crease and playing forward, but Warne and former Zimbabwe player Mbangwa were stunned at the Hawk Eye projection.

Image Id: ~/media/223D56D480934FDF8D49BB51DED8AEEF

Gayle batting out of his crease and playing forward

"I reckon he's dodged a bullet there," Mbangwa said. "He's going to feel very lucky."

Warne added: "That to me didn't look right. There's no way that's going over the top of the stumps. I just reckon Zimbabwe have been robbed there.

"To me that was going on to smash the stumps. It staggers me that it bounced that high."

Making matters worse for Zimbabwe, the ruling meant they lost their one unsuccessful review for the innings in the very first over. 

Gayle made the most of the close call and went on to post a World Cup record innings of 215, including a record-equaling 16 sixes in an innings.

Record-breaker: Gayle smashed World Cup double ton