PITCHERWITS TM

PIT your wits against Pitcherwits — the exciting puzzle where some of the answers are in pictures! The solutions to the visual clues fit into the shaded spaces on the grid. Solution on Monday.

ACROSS

1 Picture Clue 7 Solidly, but not so as to be a rural poem (5) 8 Picture Clue 11 Neckwear included, to make a connection (3-2) 13 Game, stupidly left with a shine (5) 14 Picture Clue 16 A vain attempt to be like a bird (5) 18 Picture Clue

DOWN

2 Is this how the horse refuses? (3) 3 Picture Clue 4 Tied, say, to a broken pane (4) 5 Picture Clue 6 Picture Clue 9 Picture Clue 10 From the Deli? Plain lazy! (4) 12 Grand story, part of movie/ picture (4) 15 Knowledge gives an advantage, in the end (4) 17 It’s kind of wrapped in silks (3) Yesterday’s solution — ACROSS: 1 St Valentine, 5 Aspic, 7 Leave, 9 Romania, 11 Spa, 12 Sea, 13 Derrick, 16 Mixed, 17 Ennui, 18 Non-yielding. DOWN: 1 Stateswoman, 2 Locum, 3 Nylon, 4 Everlasting, 6 Paradox, 8 Alaskan, 10 Air, 14 Radii, 15 Ideal.

5d. Men’s assets stripped in judgement (10)

3d. Be part of design on goblet (6,2)

6d. Go absolutely livid and smash the top? (3,3,4)

8a. Lipoprotein torn out from engine tubing (3,4)

1a. Not there – in Rome, with bad, innate bias (2,8)

18a. Bikers fare worse for stopping flames (10)

14a. Hurry away from a farce of a play (4,3)

9d. “So I says to this sad horse, why the...?” (4,4)