Thanks for your help with those three clues.

I am pleased that Libellule and you both liked this puzzle. Certainly was Don Manley in top form.

I am still in mourning over the cricket. But congratulations to England – they were better during the vital times in the series.

1a The stones are the ones found in fruit, and the singer used to partner Sonny!

2d The contemptible person is a main character in The Wind in the Willows

3d The sport is played with sticks used to hit a ball – just drop the C(entury)

I have been working on Donald Manley’s Friday puzzle Number 26,013 and it is a beauty. Quite challenging but very rewarding. My lunch hour has now ended and I have solved 29 out of the 32 set clues. The only ones I haven’t solved are 1a, 2d and 3d.

I would welcome any hints on these three as I hope to complete this puzzle tonight while watching the cricket.

I think this is one of the best Don Manley puzzles I have done – even though I didn’t quite finish it I really appreciated the clever clues Mr Manley set. I am sure Libellule will give this puzzle a deservedly favourable review.

Today’s puzzle is by Ray T. You can identify his puzzles by looking at that day’s Quick crossword – if all the clues and most of the answers are single words then it is almost certainly one of his.

9a Recall article in periodical (6)
This is a synonym of to recall with an indefinite article inside. The synonym is defined by Chambers as “to reduce to nothing, to abolish” rather than “to recall”, but it does come up in the Thesaurus.

11a Batman appears after detective’s confused (10)
Not the Batman from Gotham City, but another name for a valet. This follows “Detective Inspector’s”, crossword shorthand for this common prefix. Confused is the definition, and is misdirecting because it is often an anagram indicator.

Let’s hope that these two kick-start this corner for you.

I would like to say that I read Tilsit’s blogs on the fifteensquared website and now I am really enjoying reading his contributions here. I think he is one of the best crossword bloggers in the UK and it is great to have him as a blogger on this site.

I will have to wait for Tilsit’s blog to see how I was supposed to solve the ones I missed. Feeling a bit disappointed and shaken by this one. Puzzles like this make me wonder if I am making much progress at all.

Yes, it was I.

I used the wrong email address, so now my secret is out! Have oblterated it from your comment.

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit Capetown and the Stellenbosch ten years ago.