No 13324, Thursday 12 Aug 2021, Afterdark

Solution to 23D has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

9   Contract for an offer, got in writing at company (7) ABRIDGE {A}{B{R}ID}{GE}

10 Regarding sailor, one on ocean in a Canadian province (7) ONTARIO {ON}{TAR}{1}{O}

11 Got excited with second side, half the side on comeback (7) STEAMED {S}{TEAM}{siDE<=}

12 Wanting to sack student — troubling (7) NEEDING NEEDlING

13 Nun disturbed, having mental breakdown about cancellation (9) ANNULMENT {A{NUN*}LMENT*}

15 Perhaps a Thai king or reportedly leader of Nepal (5) KAREN {K}{(~or)ARE}{Ne..l}

16 Mark had one drink first and at the end more cocktail (7) SIDECAR {S{1}{Drink}{morE}CAR}

19 Irritated with new journalist covering final battle moved (7) NEEDLED {N}{b...lE}{ED}{LED}

20 Capital of Denmark, initially also known as capital of Russia (5) DAKAR {De...k}{AKA}{Ru...a}

21 Variable direction, that is on road is the most frivolous (9) YEASTIEST {Y}{EAST}{IE}{ST}

25 If it could be one assisting in childbirth (7) MIDWIFE {IF} is in middle of {WIFE}Semi&lit

26 Axes interchanged in observation behind net used by acrobats (7) TRAPEZE {E(-y+z)ZE}<=>{TRAP}

28 Paralysing pain at the extremity and top, doctor’s information not good (7) NUMBING {paiN}{U}{MB}{In...n}{N}{G} I for Information? Is a letter pick indicator missing? Comment deleted as I for information is from Chambers XWD Dictionary.

29 Recognised South African instrument having depth (7) SALUTED {SA}{LUTE}{D}

DOWN

1   New one — upstart has sea sickness (6) NAUSEA {N}{A}{Up}{SEA*} Semi&lit

2   Doctor losing his head? Encourage (4,2) URGE ON sURGEON

3   A dad and mom primarily made first man (4) ADAM Acrostic

4   Parish official’s dog's not good, died (6) BEADLE BEA(-g+d)DLE

5   Can almost rock in US city (8) JOHNSTON {JOHN}{STONe}

6   King brought in redrawn treatises, most uneven in quality (10) STREAKIEST {STREA{K}IEST*}

7   Support withdrawn, mistrial due to something relating to mediation (8) ARBITRAL {BRA<=}{TRIAL*}

8   Damned pet, escaped by first door (8) DOGGONED {DOG}{GONE}{Door}

14 Article rewritten about trouble with lizards (10) LACERTILIA {ARTICLE*}{AIL<=}

16 Grounds for side to change people in third match (8) SEDIMENT {SIDE*}{MEN}{maTch}

17 Germany and Britain way back had Saxon titles (8) DUKEDOMS {D}{UK}{MODE<=}{S}

18 British physicist’s suggestion; the French power has no limits (8) RAYLEIGH  {RAY}{LE}{mIGHt}

22 A rare thespian in South, Tamil leading actor perhaps (6) ARTIST Acrostic

23 Leaves, leaves, each for one (6) E?E?T?  (Addendum - EXEATS EX(-i+ea)EATS - See comments)

24 Courses at river ends, fade away at the bend (6) TRENDS {aT}{r..eR}{END}{S}

27 Friend’s call about leaving first year (4) ALLY {cALL}{Y}

Reference List

Writing = R, Company = GE, Sailor = TAR, Ocean = O, Second = S, Student = L, King = K, New = N, Also known as = AKA, Variable = Y, Axes = X,Y, Top = U, Doctor = MB, Not good = NG, Information = I, Depth = D, Good = G, Died = D, Can = JOHN, Support = BRA, Germany = D, Saxon = S, The in French = LE, Each = EA, Bend = S, Year = Y