The children from the Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind became another beneficiary of the fundraising efforts of The Queen Street Cricket Club, a cricketing organisation with a difference.

By fining each of its members $5.00 ever time a New Zealand player in a Test match records a duck, the club, which was formed in 1989, has raised over $300,000 for the disadvantaged children of New Zealand.

The donation of $20,000 to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind for the purchase of talking books for its children was presented live on television during the First Test Pakistan versus New Zealand at Auckland's Eden Park.

Project K, an organisation that helps children at risk also received $10,000, the second instalment of $30,000 the QSCC.

In making the presentation, the club's chairman, Roger Brittenden said the club's 255 members considered themselves the New Zealand team's greatest supporters. "While no-one would ever wish a New Zealand batsman to fail it was gratifying to know that when they did, somewhere a child would benefit, " he said.

Other donations made in recent years have been $20,000 to the Heart Kids; Allenvale Special Needs School in Christchurch and Kids First - children with immune deficiency problems. Last year the QSCC purchased a $12,000 defribulator for the Kids First Hospital in South Auckland.

Footnote: With eight ducks recorded by New Zealand in the first Test, the revenue raised was $9,000.

© CricInfo