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IT'S been paradise for batsmen, hell for bowlers.

The first five One-Day Internationals in the seven-match series between India and the West Indies have produced consistently phenomenal feats of high and fast scoring by both teams.

On flat, true pitches and fast outfields, bowlers have had no answer to power-hitting batsmen who have belted a combined total of 39 sixes and 275 fours and scored at an average of over six runs an over.

Chris Gayle, the tall left-handed West Indies opener, has scored three hundreds. The Indians, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, have had one each.

Ramnaresh Sarwan of the West Indies and V.V.S. Laxman of India has fallen one short, Wavell Hinds of the West Indies and Ajit Agarkar have both also got into the 90s.

The team batting second has won each time – and each time chased what seemed mammoth targets.

India's 325 for five off 47.4 overs to win the fourth match under the lights in Ahmedabad was the third-highest winning total in One-Day Internationals . The West Indies have scored over 280 each time to win their three matches.

The poor bowlers – especially the quicker ones – have taken a pasting. None has managed an economy rate lower than West Indies captain Carl Hooper's 5.13 with his off-spin.

Merv Dillon is the most expensive West Indian at 6.33 an over, Agarkar the costliest Indian at 6.90.

The West Indies lead the series 3-2 with the last two decisive matches in Jaipur on Thursday (starting 11:30 p.m. Eastern Caribbean time) and Vijayawada on Sunday.

© The Barbados Nation