Solution to 5D 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.
Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.
Crescent in his elements. Tough going today!
ACROSS
8 A few days outing short for Southern hemisphere (4) DOME (-s+d)DOME
9 Good bars pour full, with head of froth sticking on tap (2,3,5) UP FOR GRABS {G+BARS+POUR}* over {Fr..h}
10 Superb spinner bringing on a nick (3-5) TOP-NOTCH {TOP}{NOTCH}
11 Setter's drink said to be stout (6) MIGHTY (~my tea)
12 Mobile international units not spreading (2,4) IN SITU {I+UNITS}*
15 Shop before wives fancy exclusive exhibitions (5,8) SNEAK PREVIEWS {SNEAK}{PRE}{WIVES*}
19 Back in a moment (6) SECOND [DD]
24 About to drop off from do to doss? (4-6) HALF-ASLEEP {DO is half of DOSS and DOSS is SLEEP}
25 Bond returns smothering kiss, way to go! (4) EXIT {TI{X}E<=}
DOWN
1 Sink leaves warehouse (6) GODOWN {GO DOWN}
2 Interval to signify new item (8) MEANTIME {MEAN}{ITEM*}
3 Heap butter and suck rum (4,6) RUST BUCKET {BUTTER+SUCK}*
4 Rate efforts with rank marking highest grade (2,3,5,5) OF THE FIRST WATER*
5 Out of fashion, primarily again about cut (4) ?R?M (Addendum - FROM {Fa...n}{MORe<=} - See comments)
14 Earwigs start out from ditches and dumps (10) EAVESDROPS {lEAVES}{DROPS}
15 Spooky time in particular making one run (8) SPECTRAL {T} in {SPEC(-i+r)RAL}
16 Neem rub applied to nurse cold and cramp (8) ENCUMBER {NEEM+RUB} over {C}
18 Fleet coming to harbour whenever calm (6) PACIFY {PAC{IF}Y}
Reference List
Days = D, Good = G, International = I, Born = NE, Shop = SNEAK, Line = L, America = A, China = CRONY, Son = S, Bomber = B, Black = B, Time = T, Run = R, Cold = C, Fleet = PACY, Name = N, Jack = J
Martha was very tense. Today was the 2nd day of the Test at OVAL & Tim COOK, the ICON of English batting was back at the crease after a gap of 18 months. England was desperate to retain THE ASHES.
ReplyDeleteIt was at LORDS, playing against West Indies that Tim had SUCCUMBED to a bouncer hitting him on his HEAD. The CONCUSSION was heavy & he had been laid up for 10 months.
The sympathetic media had slowly turned VICIOUS & never TIRED of writing OBITUARIES of Tim's illustrious career. As she AGONISED by his bed side, Tim had recovered slowly. Medication & PHYSIO put him back on his feet. A batsman who had BROOKed the idea of protective head gear, was forced to wear a helmet now.
Eventhough it was MID WEEK, large crowds had gathered to welcome their hero back on the GREEN pitch. The first day had been a wash out thanx to England's BLIGHTY weather. Her parents who had migrated to CANADA, had sent flowers & best wishes. Even the POPE, who was an avid cricket fan, had sent a special prayer for Tim.
From where she sat, she had a clear view of the SCORE board. Tim began his (second) innings with a BROAD stroke, which earned him a boundary. Her greatest worry was erased. His score was NON ZERO.
But she couldn't have anticipated the brilliant innings that followed.
STOKED by the ROOTing of his fans, Tim had ACCRUED 223 runs & was still going strong when England decided to declare.
SERENADED by his team & the media, Martha's heart was bursting with joy, while her mind took an inventory of their WINE CELLAR, as she was planning their evening celebration.
PS - England won the test and retained THE ASHES. Tim Cook was the top scoring batsman & MAN of the series.
That is titled
ReplyDeleteCRUCIAL INNINGS
based on ydays solution words.
Nice Gowri! I was missing your tales for some time. Thanks
ReplyDelete5D-Out of-from; F(more)* e is cut
ReplyDeleteNot anagram
DeleteFashion Primarily - f
DeleteAgain cut- mor(e)
About - reversal ind
F(rom) - out of
Thanks!
DeleteYou solved it. 👍
DeletePerfect!
ReplyDeleteChallenging grid as usual - good workout! Didn't know that "full" is an anagrind - figured it out after getting the answer. STUCCO, SPECTRAL, FRENETIC were tricky, and satisfying to anno.
ReplyDeleteFor BROGUE, I think it is a charade of B (Bomber) + ROGUE (sharper), with def as wingtip. Not a CD.
Thanks Col and Crescent.
Makes sense re: BROGUE. Thanks for the explanation. I was confused about the anno for that one.
DeleteThanks Ramki
DeleteA challenging puzzle with some brilliant, tricky wordplay. Even though I had filled in many words, I was not completely sure about the wordplay in some until checking the blog (eg. ACRIMONY). TOP-NOTCH, MIGHTY and EXIT were my favorites. 20D NANKIN seems to be semi-&lit.
ReplyDeleteIn 4 instances I felt there was extra information that I was not able to relate to either the definition or wordplay.
In 11A (Setter's drink said to be stout (6) MIGHTY) what is the role of to be? In 19A (Back in a moment (6) SECOND), what is the role of "in a"? In 1D (Sink leaves warehouse (6) GODOWN) what is the role of "leaves"? In 6D (Bomber given sharper wingtip (6) BROGUE), what is the role of "Bomber"?
And finally, is SNEAK a valid synonym for SHOP?
Sneak=shop/grass on -synonyms from Chambers thesaurus
DeleteFrom elasewhere
ReplyDeleteDog located outside animal hospital (8)
FOXHOUND? - dog
ReplyDeleteLocated - found
Animal - ox
I presume you missed to include hospital in anno
DeleteYes. Sorry. H from Hospital. 🙂
DeleteThank u KKR!
Tough one from Crescent. Except for a few clues, had to think hard. Enjoyed the mental calisthenics. Thanks.
ReplyDelete3D- Heap leads to rust bucket. O could jot understand. On checking it says Heap is a slang for a run down car-> Rust bucket!
ReplyDeleteI found it v tough. Mental calisthenics still on. Don't think I will get even 70% of it.
ReplyDelete