No 14801, Saturday 23 May 2026, Saral

 ACROSS
7 Coach crossing borders of Ecuador landscape (7) TERRAIN {T{EcuadoR}RAIN}
8 Land for cultivation almost lay bare, abandoned (6) ARABLE {LAy BARE}*
9 Pound meat, mostly simple (6) HAMMER {HAM}{MERe}
10 Enthusiastic joker, say is an unexpected entrant (8) WILDCARD {WILD}{CARD}
11 Think new ad stunned producer in the end (10) UNDERSTAND {AD STUNNED produceR}*
13 Vent in yard somewhat small (4) TINY [T]
14 Originally artistic, perfectly styled ecclesiastical (4) APSE [Acrostic] & Lit

16 Bill controlling instrument's opening sound (5) NOISE {NO{Instrument}SE}
18 Wine in plastic (4) ASTI [HIPS]

19 Traces of shimmering mist outside garage pollution (4) SMOG [Acrostic]
21 Improve finally female, male ratio somehow (10) AMELIORATE {femalE MALE RATIO}*
23 Quiet again possibly outside hotel in city (8) SHANGHAI {SH}+{AGAIN}* outside {H}
25 Escape from leader leaving retreat (6) EGRESS {rEGRESS}
26 Finish shift around noon online (6) VENEER {VEER} around {N}{E}
27 Devilish convict suppressing leaders of undertrial cellmates (7) LUCIFER {LIFER} around {Undertrial}{Cellmates}

DOWN

1 To begin with play two notes before debut (8) PREMIERE {Play}{RE}{MI}{ERE}
2 Ford, perhaps covering head, tailing German troops (8) GARRISON {hARRISON}<=>{G}
3 Blizzard? Initially shovel right away (4) SNOW {Shovel}{NOW}
4 A daughter following dance and song (6) BALLAD {A}{D}<=>{BALL}
5 Post describing company symbol (6) MASCOT {MAS{CO}T}

6 Drink consuming smart music maker (8) CLARINET {CLAR{IN}ET}

7 Mark, say in wagon behind bar (5) TWAIN {WAIN}<=>{T}

12 Amateur moaned aloud? Secretly! (5) ASIDE {A}{SIDE}(~SIGHED)
15 Maybe help a politician with essentially voter notice (8) PAMPHLET {HELP A MP}*{voTer}
17 Proof from new church supporting first lady having papers (8) EVIDENCE {N}{CE}<=>{EV{ID}E}
18 Flier in A-one barge carrying empty car (8) AIRCRAFT {A1}{RAFT} around {CaR}
20 Friend in gang occasionally wheeling goose (6) GANDER {fRiEnD iN gAnG}<
21 Join a discussion from the beginning in this place (6) ADHERE {A}{Discussion}{HERE}
22 Spot a sergeant holding weapon (5) TASER [T]

24 Jobless International director left capital of Europe (4) IDLE {I}{D}{L}{Europe}

REFERENCE LIST

Quiet=Sh, Hotel=H, Noon=N, Online=E, Notes=RE and MI, German=G, Daughter=D, Company=CO, Smart=In, Amateur=A, Politician=MP, New=N, Church=CE, Papers=ID, International=I, Director=D, Left=L.