A number pointlessly parched (6)

I believe the answer is:

thirty

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'a number' is the definition.
(thirty is a kind of number)

I don't understand the rest of the clue.

(Other definitions for thirty that I've seen before include "Six times five" , "November's days" , "Days in September, April, June and November" , "Half of threescore" , "Number of across clues in this puzzle" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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