No 13761, Thursday 12 Jan 2023, Lightning

Rangoli by Gowri

Solution to 14A 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

1   Baking material is hard to develop (8) FLOURISH {FLOUR}{IS}{H}

5   Hard worker interrupting cry for help in South American city (6) SANTOS {S{ANT}OS}

9   Liberal opinion missing the second line, say (8) LATITUDE {L}{AtTITUDE}

10 Virginia fire department finally not in use (6) VACANT {VA}{CAN}{d...nT}

12 Regularly fear resistance at gate - perhaps a mistake (5) ERROR {fEaR}{R}{OR}

13 Have relic remodelled for Sivaji maybe (9) CHEVALIER*

14 Out of sorts, score century in game (6) ?O?C?R (Addendum - SOCCER {SCORE+C}* - See comments)

16 Former lover caught holding money that is obsolete (7) EXTINCT {EX}{TIN}{CT}

19 Allowing two-thirds of written message in Germany (7) LETTING {LETTer}{IN}{G}

21 Meeting places university establishes all around (6) FORUMS {FOR{U}MS}

23 Expensive Indian tea? Third serving on a child's eating place (4-5) HIGH-CHAIR {HIGH}{CHA}{I}{thiRd} (Addendum - {HIGH}{CHAI}{seRv..g} - See comments)

25 Hollow container with fish? (5) CREEL {Co...eR}{EEL} &lit

26 Country's supporter with passion disheartened, going around island (6) BRAZIL {BRA}{Ze{I}aL}

27 Friend ran into short jersey on tree (8) PALMETTO {PAL}{MET}{TOp}

28 King determined to get over depression (6) TROUGH {T{R}OUGH}

29 Connected with Jean, odd one going berserk (8) ADJOINED {JEAN+ODD+1}*

DOWN

1   Screen document about Tesla with resistance (6) FILTER {FIL{T}E}{R}

2   Farthest some trout wandered (9) OUTERMOST*

3   It can spin looking the same either way (5) ROTOR [CD]

4   Cocktail perhaps on vehicle (7) SIDECAR [DD] (Addendum - {SIDE}{CAR} - See comments)

6   A place to experiment with plant providing material for ornaments (9) ALABASTER {A}{LAB}{ASTER}

7   Fillet, halibut helping to make elaborate meal (5) THALI [T]

8   Overwhelm and treat USA in a bad way (8) SATURATE*

11 Powerful, excellent legwork exhibited at the start by sportsman (4) PELE Acrostic Semi&lit

15 Finally settling advance, slowly breaking hold (9) CLINCHING {CL{INCH}ING}

17 What may be seen on the jersey of anaesthetist X? (6,3) NUMBER TEN {NUMBER}{TEN}

18 Absolute help - regular blast destroyed set of letters (8) ALPHABET {A}{HELP+BlAsT}*

20 Lake below beach city is the destination (4) GOAL {L}<=>{GOA} Goa is a state and not city

21 Encourage former American president embracing battle (7) FORWARD {FOR{WAR}D}

22 Annual Monday to showcase nut (6) ALMOND [T]

24 Plant male used to make guacamole (5) GUACO GUACamOle

25 Arrived with ordinary and small part (5) CAMEO {CAME}{O}

Reference List

Hard = H, Liberal = L, Gate = OR, Century = C, Caught = CT, Germany = G, University = U, Indian tea = CHAI, Supporter = BRA, Island = I, King = R, Tesla =T, Resistance = R, Absolute = A, Lake = L, Ordinary = O