ACROSS
1 - A tap gets the soldier back in place (6) - SPIGOT {SP{IG<-}OT}
5 - Intermittently fond of an adaptation (3,3,2) - OFF AND ON*
9 - It is inopportune for a beginner with limited preparation (3-5) - ILL-TIMED {I{L}L-TIMED*}
10 - Fulminated as Romeo fell sick (6) - RAILED {R}{AILED}
11 - It is not allowed to study art review as a group (10) - CONTRABAND {CON}{TRA*}{BAND}
12 - She died with the group (4) - HERD {HER}{D}
13 - Proximity to the girl ends in failure (4,4) - NEAR MISS {NEAR} {MISS}
16 - A Royal servant in the Sultanate follows you formally (6) - YEOMAN {YE}{OMAN}
17 - Calm in reviewing medical practice (6) - PLACID [T<-]
19 - A diplomatic representation charmed Egyptian leader (8) - DEMARCHE {DEMARCH*}{E} Representation on double duty?
21 - Priest got caught out before long….. (4) - ANON cANON
22 - ……and finally, not all tags replaced (2,4,4) - AT LONG LAST*
25 - It is alright to protect it, when it is limited in number (6) - FINITE {FIN{IT}E}
26 - The bird gets hot by middle of October (8) - FLAMINGO {FLAMING}{O}
28 - Important to take a wicket, when score is four times (6) - EIGHTY [CD] (Addendum - wEIGHTY - See comments)
DOWN
2 - It could be an handicap when there is interest in a game (5) - POLIO {POL{I}O}
3 - The bird for example returns, understand? (3,2) - GET IT {GE<-}{T IT}
4 - Instrument to transport my paint (7) - TYMPANI*
5 - You suffer them given a choice of business transactions (7) - ORDEALS {OR}{DEALS}
6 - Scientist at a distance, coming a day later (7) - FARADAY {FAR}{A}{DAY}
7 - Animal noise that initially brought our friend next door (9) - NEIGHBOUR {NEIGH}{B}{OUR}
8 - Outsmart having finished run with everyone (9) - OVERREACH {OVER}{R}{EACH}
14 - Eurasian rose in a gentle setting (9) - EGLANTINE*
15 - Little known credit one gets resolved (9) - RECONDITE*
18 - Talk of Diana having a drink on court (7) - DIALECT {DI}{ALE}{CT}
19 - Sad that handout is only 75 per cent complete (7) - DOLEFUL {DOLE}{FULl}
20 - He gets to escort authority (7) - MANDATE {MAN}{DATE}
23 - A fairly ingenious way to allow fabrication (5) - LYING [T]
24 - Things are different when there is no number, see? (5) - SIGHT THInGS*
Several good clues in the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteIn 16A ye represents you formally or formerly ?
Same doubt in 19A about the AInd.
28 - Important to take a wicket, when score is four times (6) - EIGHTY [CD]
Important = Weighty
take a wicket = (-w)
four score = Eighty
Thanks Bhavan
ReplyDeleteSome very nice clues. Smooth with nothing jarring.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking before I opened the blog what an eglantine looks like and said to myself that Deepak would have a picture on the blog. Thanks for the lovely picture
ReplyDeleteExcellent CW and enjoyed doing it.Could not get 14D.Misplaced the rose-being a down clue,I was looking for a reversal ! Also got stuck with 15D.
ReplyDeleteBhavan@8.33- 16A
"formally you" - Ye
Lovely crossword with very nice surface reading for practically all clues.
ReplyDeleteQuite nice, some very elegantly phrased clues, eg 28A.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy 'HER' for 'SHE' in 12A, but didn't make too much of a diff for getting the solution
Enjoyed the offerings from the (relatively) new setters ... Buzzer and Arden's puzzles were damn good. Had a bit of tough time initially with Scintillator's puzzle, but in the end seemed good as well.
ReplyDeleteHope for more of these and less of NJ/Manna :)
Yesterday's crossword was Scintillating---Very much 19 Across than others. Shook us all out of 27 Across. What a 29 Across.!! Our 28 Across to you Scintillator. Not to miss you at any 26 Down. We all feel 14 down.
ReplyDeleteSmooth and easy one, not so {14D*}.
ReplyDeleteI also thought it should have been 'formerly you' in 16A.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there's a typo in 2A - should have been 'It could be a handicap...' not 'an handicap'
Otherwise, a very good puzzle. Enjoyed solving it.
I thought it should be formerly too -
ReplyDeleteBut then I got to thinking that thee and ye equate to the informal "tu" and the formal "vous"
So the formally tag is probably quite right.
Really like some of the clues in this one.
ReplyDeleteFINITE, WEIGHTY
I felt somewhat uncomfortable reading 7D. I'd have preferred the if the answer was NEIGH, and if the friend next door had been "brought out" somehow.
Re: yesterday/early today's "Hu is the President of China" brought that this rather famous skit by Abbot and Costello:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M
It's very likely that this was their inspiration.
Please forgive me for the terribly incomplete and nonsensical sentences in the previous comment; I'm already half asleep.
ReplyDeleteRaju's message
ReplyDeleteToo many cryptic liberties taken by the compiler.Too many one letter placements. Could do with a bit more intricate clues--ahem, like NJ-ji's.
Today,whilst doing the Telegraph cryptic crossword,from my collections, came across these very unuusal lights:
Unusual combination of destructiive and constructive forces (4)
Make a difference (5,2,8)
Couldn't wait to share with ye-all
Have a go, folks.