| Comments on the clues |
|---|
| 1. A case near Barking demanding delivery for medical reasons (9) |
| 1. | Role of “demanding “ is unclear . Doesn’t seem to work as a valid connector | | 2. | Nicely constructed anagram clue | | 3. | Good straightforward wordplay and disguised definition. |
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| 2. A sane care arrangement for the end of pregnancy? |
| 1. | A bit forced, this anagram |
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| 4. A scare under the knife? Have kittens! (9) |
| 1. | Nearly made it for me, a pity 'ean' is so obscure | | 2. | ‘Ean’ is a bit too obscure with no indication that it’s obsolete | | 3. | Part of speech mismatch in definition. The idea is captured, but without precision. |
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| 5. A section's appearance, with pages redacted, is deceptive |
| 1. | "Section" cannot be both definition and wordplay element unless clue is & lit. | | 2. | Not keen on the way the S is added to the anagram | | 3. | Evil split between def & fodder. Solver encouraged to assume cryptic reading error (is..is), which is, one might say, deceptive. Nice one. |
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| 6. A way to bear territory, through rocky edges of Caspian Sea |
| 1. | A nice definition, but in the surface 'bear territory' sounds wrong | | 2. | Surface maybe implausible but an original idea |
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| 7. After the Emperor’s appearances, Pontius Pilate initially retired to give order |
| 1. | A good anagram and deletion, the anagrind lets it down a bit |
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| 8. An operation can erase a wrinkle (9) |
| 1. | A nice smooth clue but 'wrinkle' seems a bit dubious as anagrind | | 2. | Very neatly done. Surprised no one else (me included) spotted this. |
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| 9. Arrest Aryan as stated by procedure |
| 1. | Doesn’t seem to work as a homophone |
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| 10. Arriving via short-cut over viaduct. |
| 1. | Nice cryptic definition couple | | 2. | Repeating via signals L&S neatly. Hyphen wrong: verb only, both readings want modified cut. QM would help. Arriving(noun?) an awkward def. |
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| 12. Australia's opener occupying crease undone by an incisive delivery |
| 1. | Excellent linkage between definition and indicators | | 2. | A nice deceptive clue but whilst 'occupying crease' is necessary for the cryptic wordplay, it makes the surface story less smooth. |
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| 13. Chances are a child is delivered unnaturally this way ! |
| 1. | Clever wordplay, but 'delivered' doesn't really work as a deletion indicator | | 2. | Like the construction | | 3. | The ‘is’ spoils the wordplay. |
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| 14. Cut delivery from small district in French city |
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| 15. Cutting out delivery can ease supply around Arkansas |
| 1. | Hmmm cutting delivery is not likely to ease supply! |
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| 17. Delivery of cosmetic case and belt by noon (9) |
| 1. | I think 'cosmetic' as an anagram indicator is a stretch too far |
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| 19. Delivery sent over Dele Alli’s head is caught by excellent keeper (9) |
| 1. | Explanation too complicated |
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| 21. Endless seances are an absurd theatrical act to reach loved ones on ‘the other side’ |
| 1. | Imaginative, I like "theatrical act" but think the full definition is a step too far | | 2. | Definition is overstretched, but a merit for effort. |
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| 22. Excitement and new beginnings after invasive general surgery? |
| 1. | Different approach, although there may be a good number of invasive generals who fit the description. |
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| 23. Fast delivery for those expecting a special bundle |
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| 24. Fired as a cleaner, having left out section in hospital |
| 1. | One of the best anagram ideas |
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| 25. Former Italian prison has a blackout setback. |
| 1. | Erase = black out — not blackout |
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| 26. Give birth to the noblest Roman? On the contrary this section, paradoxically, was the most kindest cut of all |
| 1. | Too long all round! | | 2. | Double superlative in clue .l’ve not seen anything as illiterate as this for a while |
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| 27. How Aurelia might have given birth? (9) |
| 1. | Not really a cryptic clue | | 2. | Not really a cryptic clue |
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| 28. How one's delivered treatment of areas with acne? |
| 1. | Nice definition but sounds a bit forced | | 2. | Definition and wordplay seamlessly combined |
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| 29. Imperial Guard revealed by crones in unspoken play to hold fatal loophole? |
| 1. | The second def isn't for "Caesarean" as "fatal loophole" is not the subject. It's also too oblique. | | 2. | Too many steps required for what’s mostly a cryptic def. |
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| 32. Incisive delivery cut back with a nick carrying |
| 1. | Surface doesn’t mean much to me, but hopefully makes cricketing sense. |
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| 34. Kind of debut theatre performance that leaves one in stitches |
| 1. | Excellent deceptive wordplay – challenging but fair. My winner. |
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| 36. Labour's replacement leader of course heralds a new sane era (9) |
| 1. | Great def., but not sure about ‘heralds’ |
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| 37. Labour-saving device for those with children? |
| 1. | 'With child' in the explanation is better than 'with children' in the clue | | 2. | Nice try but not sure the with child = pregnant carries over to the plural. |
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| 39. May enter directions to neighbourhood for special delivery |
| 1. | “To” spoils the cryptic reading. |
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| 40. “New Arrivals” section (9) |
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| 42. Opener for Australia inside batting crease, facing an unorthodox delivery |
| 1. | 'Bat' [(vt) to flutter] would need to be intransitive for 'batting' to work as the anagrind here. What a pity! | | 2. | Nice idea, but not as smooth as 12 | | 3. | Excellent, especially “batting” | | 4. | I think something can be batted but it can’t bat by itself. |
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| 44. Organising a sea crane for extraction operation |
| 1. | Straightforward good clue with different but credible surface story. |
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| 46. Second batsman stuck in crease, confused by an awkward delivery |
| 1. | Second batsman ≠ second of batsman |
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| 47. Section cut from northern end of old Israeli seaport |
| 1. | I can’t see how ‘northern end of’ means ‘ending with northern’. |
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| 54. This French saree is styled with an untimely rip |
| 1. | “Ça” is usually translated as “that” |
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| 55. This may help to release one enduring hard labour. |
| 1. | A deceptive different 'take' and very good clue. |
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| 57. Treat a case again with a new surgical procedure (9) |
| 1. | I don’t think “re-” indicates “again” |
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| 58. What's to be done, when a babe won't come out? |
| 1. | One of the few that raised a smile :) | | 2. | Amusing and different. |
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