Crossword Genius

Country hotel's playing ball (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

lesotho

'country' is the definition.
(Lesotho is an example)

'hotel's playing ball' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates anagramming the letters.
'ball' becomes 'o' (O looks like a ball).
'hotels' with letters rearranged gives 'lesoth'.
'lesoth'+'o'='LESOTHO'

(Other definitions for lesotho that I've seen before include "African country, formerly Basutoland" , "Kingdom within South Africa" , "Country, an enclave of South Africa, capital Maseru" , "Kingdom surrounded by South Africa" , "Landlocked country in southern Africa" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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