John Davison smashed the fastest century in World Cup history on Sunday as Canada amassed a respectable total of 202 in their Group B match against West Indies.

Four days after recording the lowest total in one-day history, 36 all out against Sri Lanka, the Canadians posted their highest ever limited-overs international score, only a late batting collapse saving further West Indies blushes.

West Indies captured the last nine wickets for just 47 runs to dismiss the Canadians in the 43rd over, leaving them to chase a fairly modest target with the threat of rain looming.

The Canadians were helped by West Indian captain Carl Hooper's decision to give them first use of a perfect batting strip and a sloppy display by the twice world champions.

Hooper had no hesitation in electing to field first after his team missed out on two valuable points in their last match against Bangladesh, which was washed out by rain, but did not get the required support from his bowlers and fielders until late in the innings.

Davison benefited from two dropped catches and an extraordinary piece of luck when the ball rolled back on to his stumps but did not dislodge the bails, but was otherwise in total control.

He smashed eight fours and six sixes to reach his hundred off 67 balls in 98 minutes, finishing with 111 from 76 deliveries, easily the finest performance of his career.

Davison, who was born in Canada but moved to Australia when he was just five weeks old, raced to his half-century off 30 balls, matching Ricardo Powell and Gary Kirsten's record for the fastest fifties of the tournament.

TOWERING SIX

He reached his hundred with a towering six off Mervyn Dillon to break Kapil Dev's previous fastest World Cup century off 72 balls, and equalled the fifth quickest hundred in one-day international history.

Davison, 32, also shared a 96-run opening stand with Ishwar Maraj, a record partnership for Canada, to lay the foundations for a respectable total.

They sped past the 36 the entire team managed against Sri Lanka in the sixth over and had more than doubled that mark by the 10th.

Maraj departed for 16 in the 12th over when he edged Pedro Collins to Hooper at slip but Desmond Chumney provided Davison with reliable support, scoring 19 in a 59-run stand.

Chumney fell with the total on 155 and was followed almost immediately by Davison, who was brilliantly caught one-handed on the boundary by Vasbert Drakes to trigger a stunning batting collapse.

Canada still managed to pass 200 for the first time in a one-day international but the failure of their lower-order to contribute cost them dearly with the last three wickets falling in as many balls.

Drakes, who conceded 29 from his first two overs when Davison was in full swing, recovered well to mop up the tail and finish with figures of five for 44.