SYDNEY, July 26: Bids are mounting for the ball Shane Warne bowled to claim his world record equalling 527th Test wicket in this month's second Test against Sri Lanka.

The ball from the drawn Cairns Test match is attracting spirited bidding with a children's charity to become the chief beneficiary.

The master Australian leg-spinner has listed it on Internet auction site ebay to raise funds for the "Shane Warne Foundation", established to assist sick and underprivileged children. Since bidding began last week, bids for the ball have increased to $42,500 (US$31,000).

Warne, who finished with 4-70 bowling unchanged for 37 overs, equalled Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan's world record on July 13 when Upul Chandana was stumped by Adam Gilchrist for 14.

It was a line-ball decision which had to go to the TV umpire for adjudication. In five hours on Monday the top bid for what Warne regards as his "most prized possession" increased in value by $10,000 (US$7,100). The auction ends late on Thursday. -AFP