Answer and Anno for 15A left for a first-time commenter till 10AM.
ACROSS
1 Tool used with a fastener by a motor vehicle operator (11) SCREWDRIVER {SCREW}{DRIVER}
9 Clumsy marsupial gets skinned by the foreign nannies (2,5) AU PAIRSmARSUPIAl*
10 Silent actor? (4-2) WALK-ON [E]
11 Frank caught with a hand tool (5) PLANE (~plain)
12 An interruption by the accountant to counter a trick (7) CAESURA {RUSE}{A}<= after {CA}
15 Call to manipulate, reportedly (4)N?E? (Addendum NEED (~knead) - See comments)
16 Hold goes wrong after metal is put around by a clumsy person (10) CLODHOPPER {C{HOLD*}OPPER}
18 Strange scoreboard entry attached to the bridge player entertained by us in France (10) EXTRANEOUS {EXTRA}{N{E}OUS}
20 Newton takes out the Frenchman in a flexible armour piece to get a metal fastener (4) NAIL(-fl+n)NAIL Fl/Frenchman? (Addendum - (-m+n)NAIL - See comments)
23 Amateurs in disarray after the Oriental leaves for an Indonesian island (7) SUMATRA AMATeURS*
24 Ali Baba circles around some old calculators (5) ABACI [T]
26 Polo piece obtained from a food grain with the adult exchanged for iodine (6) MALLET M(-i+a)ALLET
27 Make fun of one dismounting from the injured palomino (7) LAMPOON PALOMiNO*
28 One getting involved in mineral oil refinement to become a wealthy person (11) MILLIONAIRE* {1} in {MINERAL+OIL}*
DOWN
2 Initially called Hemant in Solapur, expecting loans for an edge tool (6) CHISEL Acrostic
3 Comfort resulting from the removal of the wings of a small mammal (4) EASEwEASEl
4 Impoverished aunt at sea is behind the soft fine feathers spread around the party (4-3-3) DOWN-AND-OUT {DOWN}{AN{DO}UT*}
5 Sight organ playing tricks? (8) ILLUSION [CD]
6 Obtained the right round baked dish lining for a vain activity (3,4) EGO TRIP {GOT}{R} in {PIE<=}
7 Former US president packs a writing instrument for the woodworker (9) CARPENTER {CAR{PEN}TER}
8 Narcotic in the possession of Gopi, a tea-seller (6) OPIATE [T]
13 Almost claim the thick brown fur brought up with music in a moderately quick tempo (10) ALLEGRETTO {ALLEGe}{OTTER<=}
14 Talented tribal in trouble after welcoming the chief lieutenant (9) BRILLIANT {Li...t} in {TRIBAL+IN}*
17 Twin breaking pearl after the entry of the criminal and a student (8) PARALLEL {PAR{AL}{L}EL*}
19 Upset man in an ill-fitted suit sees a dangerous wave (7) TSUNAMI {TSU{NAM*}I*}
21 Aggressive woman in the river's an old warrior from Scythia (6) AMAZON[DD] [MD]
22 Drive home with a hand tool (6) HAMMER [DD]
25 Request an increase after moving up quietly (4) PLEA (+p)PLEA(-p)
GRID
1 Tool used with a fastener by a motor vehicle operator (11) SCREWDRIVER {SCREW}{DRIVER}
9 Clumsy marsupial gets skinned by the foreign nannies (2,5) AU PAIRS
10 Silent actor? (4-2) WALK-ON [E]
11 Frank caught with a hand tool (5) PLANE (~plain)
12 An interruption by the accountant to counter a trick (7) CAESURA {RUSE}{A}<= after {CA}
15 Call to manipulate, reportedly (4)
16 Hold goes wrong after metal is put around by a clumsy person (10) CLODHOPPER {C{HOLD*}OPPER}
18 Strange scoreboard entry attached to the bridge player entertained by us in France (10) EXTRANEOUS {EXTRA}{N{E}OUS}
20 Newton takes out the Frenchman in a flexible armour piece to get a metal fastener (4) NAIL
23 Amateurs in disarray after the Oriental leaves for an Indonesian island (7) SUMATRA AMAT
24 Ali Baba circles around some old calculators (5) ABACI [T]
26 Polo piece obtained from a food grain with the adult exchanged for iodine (6) MALLET M(-i+a)ALLET
27 Make fun of one dismounting from the injured palomino (7) LAMPOON PALOM
28 One getting involved in mineral oil refinement to become a wealthy person (11) MILLIONAIRE* {1} in {MINERAL+OIL}*
DOWN
2 Initially called Hemant in Solapur, expecting loans for an edge tool (6) CHISEL Acrostic
3 Comfort resulting from the removal of the wings of a small mammal (4) EASE
4 Impoverished aunt at sea is behind the soft fine feathers spread around the party (4-3-3) DOWN-AND-OUT {DOWN}{AN{DO}UT*}
5 Sight organ playing tricks? (8) ILLUSION [CD]
6 Obtained the right round baked dish lining for a vain activity (3,4) EGO TRIP {GOT}{R} in {PIE<=}
7 Former US president packs a writing instrument for the woodworker (9) CARPENTER {CAR{PEN}TER}
8 Narcotic in the possession of Gopi, a tea-seller (6) OPIATE [T]
13 Almost claim the thick brown fur brought up with music in a moderately quick tempo (10) ALLEGRETTO {ALLEG
14 Talented tribal in trouble after welcoming the chief lieutenant (9) BRILLIANT {L
17 Twin breaking pearl after the entry of the criminal and a student (8) PARALLEL {PAR{AL}{L}EL*}
19 Upset man in an ill-fitted suit sees a dangerous wave (7) TSUNAMI {TSU{NAM*}I*}
21 Aggressive woman in the river's an old warrior from Scythia (6) AMAZON
22 Drive home with a hand tool (6) HAMMER [DD]
25 Request an increase after moving up quietly (4) PLEA (+p)PLEA(-p)
GRID
20a armour->mail. Frenchman mon->m. My understanding.
ReplyDelete+1.
ReplyDeleteMail (armour) with N replacing M.
15a NEED
ReplyDeleteHears Knead (manipulate)
Quick at it! Need of the hour.
Delete21d can it be multiple def. Aggressive Woman//the river//old warrior from scythia
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+2. Otherwise 'river' is not explained.
DeleteEngaging, entertaining CW, though needed help to find a few. Satisfied having completed.Ego trip & walk-on were the last to fall.
ReplyDelete+1
Delete+1
DeleteWalk-on is an extra- so can be an entry in score board.
ReplyDelete??
Delete'Scoreboard entry' in 18A- extra.
Deletecricket scoreboard extra run!
Delete11A- A in the middle kept confusing me.
ReplyDeleteClue from Saturday's ET CW-
ReplyDeleteFormer president employs writer and woodworker
I did this puzzle and when I saw 7D , could fill in with the blink of an eye.
DeleteDid the puzzle late night(early morning) after coming back from some work in factory.
ReplyDeleteExpecting the second XChequer was pleasantly surprised to find this "Tool Box" Special from Neyartha. Typical Neyartha fare but far easier..
Explains why I was able to do it!
DeleteI too was expecting ExChequer II and again pleasantly surprised!
Thank God for small mercies. Monday with Neyartha is better than with, you know who.
ReplyDeleteDeletion Exchequer and addition neyartha ? Lets get used to all compilers and all sorts of clues, including additions and deletions. Or else, how will we learn ? We shpuld thank all these compilers for giving us excellent fares each morning . vying with each other .
DeleteSundaram Sir:I think XChequer offers us high class puzzles..which as solvers we are not up to it..we need to raise our solving skills.
DeleteI know!
ReplyDeleteApril seems to be fooling ever!
ReplyDeleteStarted with Incognito/Arden.
Now, unexpectedly Neyartha overtook Xchequer.
😀😀
DeleteApril fool banaya toh unko gussa aaya!
DeleteGuess kisko?
SAIRA BANU?
DeleteOk, but my guess was xChequer!
DeleteReason....You know why? At least today!
DeleteAlbert Pinto ko... says the film. But no AF in that?
ReplyDeleteThe song april fool banaya...etc was from movie April Fool.
DeleteMB,
DeleteRemember I had sent you some time back a Tamil movie song 'Emara sonnadhu nana?"
When was it? Don't remember having seen it!
DeleteThus the BRILLIANT idea of the bouncer avoided them being DOWN AND OUT.
ReplyDeleteLife moved on.
The dancer became famous and people used to AMAZE ON the EASE of her movements particularly when the music was at an ALLEGRETTO. Money poured.
The bouncer was often on an EGO TRIP, day dreaming, WALKING ON clouds, thinking that he soon will be a MILLIONAIRE...
Alas! That was only an ILLUSION.
Thereafter he was frequently seen with a SCREWDRIVER!!
The Bouncer & The Dancer-Part III. Lovely!
DeleteLiquid or solid?!
ReplyDeleteLiquid and often slept opiated and the need to if not hammer wake him up by hitting on his head gently with a Mallet!!
ReplyDeleteAfter following all your advice and after diligently checking this blog every day, today I managed a 60% completion. May not be an achievement per se nevertheless I'm thrilled :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the suggestions and motivation. Feels good finally!!
Great achievement. When I started out, I hardly used to get any clues of Neyartha.
DeleteWell done Ananthakrishnan
Delete60% of a Neyartha CW (though termed comparatively easier) would really be something to cheer about. Keep up the good work and you would enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot. I think true success is in the consistency. Hopefully I will continue to learn from this treasure trove :)
ReplyDelete