LONDON. June 5 (Reuters): A sporting charity is cashing in on World Cup batsmen's embarrassing failures.

The National Westminster bank is paying 100 pounds (160 dollars) to the Primary Club, which works to provide sport and recreational opportunities for blind and partially sighted people, for every golden duck (first ball dismissal) in the tournament.

There have been 18 in the 31 matches played so far.

Pigeons, rather than golden ducks, became unwitting World Cup statistics during the India-Australia game at The Oval yesterday.

Two were killed within minutes each other during India's innings, one in mid-air as Paul Reiffel returned the ball to the stumps from the mid-on boundary and the other hit by a cut shot by century maker Ajay Jadeja.

The most famous feathered casualty of a cricket ball is the stuffed sparrow in the Lord's museum.