No 14859, Thursday 30 Jul 2026, Karaoke

Solution to 2D 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.

ACROSS

1   Rain around Eastern Colorado's top desert (6) DECAMP D{E}{Co...o}AMP} Rain/Damp?

4   One with highest technical skills developed virus too (8) VIRTUOSO*

9   Russian capital in distress over time (6) ROUBLE tROUBLE

10 Highly poisonous substances concocted in extremely deadly case (8) CYANIDES {IN+De..lY+CASE}*

12 Animal worker at restaurant leaving early finally (8) ANTEATER {ANT}{EATERy}

13 Agree to cheat copper and inspector at last (6) CONCUR {CON}{CU}{i...oR}

15 Touch on cycle, it is forbidden (4) TABU (+t)TABU(-t)

17 Trying to endure mobs in a riot (10) BURDENSOME {BURDENSOME}*

19 Spooner's rodent loathes those who share accommodation (10) HOUSEMATES (~mouse hates to housemates)

20 Brought end of page to the head for insect (4) FLEA (+f)FLEA(-f)

23 50% of seed gets fruit. Cool (6) SEDATE {SEed}{DATE}

24 Wonder drug taken after drink in a bar (8) RUMINATE {E}<=>{RUM}{IN}{A}{T}

27 Somewhere in Australia, a detailed plan missed initial targets (8) ADELAIDE {A}{DEtAILED}*

28 Free service first with your personal credentials (4-2) USER-ID {RID}<=>{USE}

29 Performing sex daily? It impairs your intellectual competence! (8) DYSLEXIA*

30 He was loved by Aphrodite mainly to carry out crime in retreat (6) ADONIS {Ap...e}{DO}{SIN<=}

DOWN

1   Sleeping gatekeeper forgot old coat at the close (7) DORMANT {DOoRMAN}{coaT}

2   Cocaine runs around in the open bar (5) C?U?T ()

3   Think over a chief hermit. He is a scholar in sacred law (6) MULLAH {MULL}{A}{He...t}

5   Primarily it describes your love for poem on pastoral subjects (4) IDYL Acrostic

6   12:50, in all probability? (3,2,3) TEN TO ONE [DD/Rebus]

7   Traditional type of class, not new to teach (3,6) OLD SCHOOL [C&DD]

8   Keep an eye on old boy with premier Scotch bottle with hidden name (7) OBSERVE {OB}{Sc...h}{nERVE}

11 Worldly cryptic clues by a setter in the finale (7) SECULAR {CLUES*}{A}{s...eR}

14 What batsman did before going to bat, dropping cap finally, made sense (5,2) ADDED UP {pADDED UP}

16 Vast group abducted old ship (9) BOUNDLESS  {B{O}UNDLE}{SS}

18 Feel about water shortage desperately in oppressive weather (8) HEATWAVE {HAVE} over {WATEr}*

19 Manager spent hours regularly with orchestra (7) HUSBAND {HoUrS}{BAND}

21 Minister abruptly got upset over plans of action (7) AGENDAS {AGENt}{SAD<=}

22 One-sided? I like to be in a place to sleep (6) BIASED {B}{I}{AS}ED}

25 Old hand in an area on stage before the curtain (5) APRON {A{PRO}N}

26 I'll admit often about some breakfast item (4) IDLI {IlL+aDmIt}<=

Reference List

Eastern = E, Time = T, Drug = E, Bar = T, Old = O, Old boy = OB, Name = N, Ship = SS