Captain Sinister in Split (5)

I believe the answer is:

cleft

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'split' is the definition.
(synonyms)

'captain sinister' is the wordplay.
'captain' becomes 'c' (this might be a standard abbreviation I've not previously seen).
'sinister' becomes 'left' (I've seen this before).
'c'+'left'='CLEFT'

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for cleft that I've seen before include "rent" , "Split in the palate" , "Split, divided" , "Narrow gap" , "Split into two" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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