CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Jot weight goal for a batter (4) 3 Director’s article about long book by Spanish artist (4,6) 9 Golfer Ernie maintaining equal numbers (7) 11 Two sailors bathe at last, raw (7) 12 Cool Western alliance including Ukraine, finally (5) 13 Asian crocodile’s back at the rear of the boat (7) 15 One of Jacob’s sons acquires doodads (7) 16 Jurisdiction of a noble lad Rome meddled with (7) 18 Scottish national symbol altered the list (7) 21 Mary Jane’s angry, careless criticism (7) 23 In centre, a timely petition (7) 25 Ram front of elevated, flattopped hill (5) 27 “Wrong letter,” I call anew (7) 28 I bore myself in retreat for people of distinction (7) 29 Arachnid behind prison camp’s calcite formation (10) 30 Icy mass composer (4) DOWN 1 Little fellows in shiny suits, some evenings (10) 2 Anger Left and part of Europe

(7) 4 Flowers coming after last of

sweet samplers (7) 5 Sea mist splashed around

painter (7) 6 Mad king losing English stuff (5) 7 Craved vote for communist,

keeping neutral (7) 8 Must have struck a low blow to

the ear (4) 10 Wearing the latest in fake chin

chilla, e.g. (7) 14 Second, counting small number (10) 17 Restricted a chart subject to evaluation (7) 19 Resistance to change shaken up in a rite (7) 20 You and Beatrice caught in Emily’s glance (7) 21 Clear about one doctor’s case (7) 22 Phone link in hotel out of order (7) 24 Tropical fish seen in remote travels (5) 26 In retrospect, tender love (4)