Cast in the short series (5)
I believe the answer is:
throw
'cast' is the definition.
('throw' can be a synonym of 'cast')
'the short series' is the wordplay.
'short' means to remove the last letter.
'series' becomes 'row' (I've seen this before).
'the' with its last letter removed is 'th'.
'th'+'row'='THROW'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for throw that I've seen before include "pitch or > floor" , "Hurl, fling" , "return from the boundary, perhaps" , "Make a pot" , "shot-put event?" .)