This wonderfully nonchalant spinning winner was captured at a friendly match between two players from the American sponsorship set-up "Team Nexy USA". Video: YouTube - Art Fido.com

How slender are the margins. Chris Gayle went out to bat for the West Indies yesterday condemned, if not quite in so many words, as a washed-up mercenary wastrel. Disillusionment abounded with the way he approached his work. The president of his team's cricket board had felt emboldened to retweet a message during the previous match that said: "Gayle goes... Can't buy a run. Let's give him a retirement package ... Can't fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation."

" Chris Gayle bludgeoned a World Cup-record 215 containing 16 sixes and shared a 372-run partnership with Marlon Samuels in a stunning return to form Tuesday 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 an lbw appeal on the first ball he faced from Tinashe Panyangara.

Fresh from blasting the first ever Cricket World Cup double century, West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle has warned heavyweight opponents South Africa that his side has a "score to settle" with them. The Windies posted 2-372 in Canberra on Tuesday in front of 5,544 spectators to record the highest one-day international score on Australian soil. Gayle smashed 215 runs off 147 balls in the 73-run rain affected win, the fastest ever ODI double ton.

Three quick-fire thoughts from Dylan Cleaver on the best match-ups to watch during Saturday's New Zealand v Australia blockbuster.

New Zealand are expecting Australia to come at them with a two-pronged attack in the clutch World Cup clash at Eden Park on Saturday - batting and bowling, and also plenty of verbals.

Scotland's hopes of inflicting an improbable defeat on their border neighbours were dashed at Hagley Oval today. Having seen England get well beaten by Australia and, more humiliatingly, New Zealand, in the early days of the World Cup, the Scots fancied they could follow up with a victory like no other.

1. Nobody wants to take on New Zealand at the moment... except Australia. That is why this is such an anticipated clash. 2. India look the real deal, South Africa look bereft of new ideas. This is not something I envisaged before the tournament and it's not something that will necessarily hold.

1.Can England win in Wellington tonight? Of course they can. 2. This is pretty clearly what Mike Hesson and Brendon McCullum consider their 1st XI. 3.It would give the camp a lot of confidence if Ross Taylor not only scored some significant runs today, but scored them fluently.

New Zealand will field the same team that beat Scotland and Sri Lanka for tomorrow's World Cup match against against England in Wellington. Captain Brendon McCullum's confirmed the squad is injury-free and there was no need for changes as a reward for the performance. "We've played a bit of cricket on this wicket so we expect it to be similar and this team will suit us well on this ground," he said. "We knew the scheduling well before so we've been able to factor that into our preparation and we go in with no excuses.

Prime Minister John Key has sidestepped the question of whether Team New Zealand skipper has been dumped, praising him for being a very successful sportsman, but his future role is for Team NZ to decide , not the Government.

Cricket Herald’s Dylan Cleaver offers three quick comments from CWC15. 1. 300-plus totals are the new normal. 2. What to make of New Zealand? 3. The minnows deserve their place in the sun

"Job done" was New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson's succinct assessment of their three-wicket victory over Scotland which, because they reached the target in 24.5 overs, left them with a handy profit on net run rate, relative to their pool opponents. Hesson described the batting performance as "untidy" but stressed that over the last 30 ODIs, which includes matches beyond the 3-0 loss to Bangladesh in November 2013, they have been a "decent batting unit" so there's no need to panic.

New Zealand are keeping schtum on the likely makeup of their side to face Scotland in their second game at the World Cup tomorrow. Having seen off Sri Lanka by 98 runs in some style in Christchurch on Saturday, changes are tipped but Brendon McCullum was the soul of discretion today.

The IPL auction is later today, and Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum is hoping some of his team get contracts and do well 'so I don't have to keep picking up the tab'. Looking ahead to Scotland Tuesday, he notes coach Hesson has reminded them they need competition points and It doesn't matter who they earn them off.

The Cricket World Cup continues today with the Black Caps playing Scotland in Dunedin. Who will win? Watch this cricket predict the result.

Australia posted 342-9 on the vast expanse of turf that is the MCG. They got there largely thanks to a woeful start in the field by England. Aaron Finch, Australia's only top-four contributor of note, was dropped on 0 by Chris Woakes, a simple enough chance at square leg. Some 135 runs later, Woakes must have been feeling rather small as the opener walked off to a standing ovation from the huge crowd.

On a tide of national goodwill, Brendon McCullum delivered the catalyst for New Zealand's victory against Sri Lanka at Hagley Park yesterday. McCullum's recent decision to return to open the order with free licence rather than cramp himself like a padded jack-in-the-box at No5 was never better exemplified. His 65 from 49 balls was a local anesthetic to public nerves.

Highlights of the opening ceremonies in NZ and Australia as the Cricket World Cup opens.

Comedian Ben Hurley, actor Shane Cortese, television presenter Toni Street, Labour MP Grant Robinson and actor Neill Rea have shared their memories of the tournament with the Herald and have made predictions for the latest World Cup on New Zealand soil.

Interview with former Australian batsman Greg Chappell. Chappell gives his views on the current Australia team and the other contenders for the Cricket World Cup.

Interview with former leg-spinner Shane Warne. Warne assesses Australia’s chances at this year’s Cricket World Cup.

Bath tub racers and their craft will take to the water at Bowentown, Waihi Beach, tomorrow as the 2015 Bath Tub Regatta gets underway".

Watch as this gentleman (casually) takes arcade basketball to the next level. Video / Youtube: Rumble viral

Sports editor-at-large Dylan Cleaver and NZ Herald sports writer Andrew Alderson sit down to discuss the upcoming Cricket World Cup and who will be the 'Winners, losers and possible dark horses'

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis believes the magic of the 1992 World Cup victory can happen again for his team.

Interview with England fast bowler Stuart Broad. Broad gives his thoughts on England’s expectations for the tournament and who he expects to challenge for the trophy.

Bosses of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 are confident the "sickness" of match-fixing won't play a part in the showcase tournament starting on Saturday. An anti-corruption unit inside the International Cricket Council (ICC), has drawn up a list of people identified as being involved in match or spot fixing and illegal betting.

Interviews with Canterbury Wizards batsman Peter Fulton and Canterbury Cricket Chief Executive Lee Germon. Fulton and Germon share their memories of the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake and look ahead to the city hosting the first game of the tournament.

It's a cricket mad country that prepares to play arch rivals India in their firt World Cup match, and the local fans are showing their support.