Delay as before, making India bat in the middle (5)

I believe the answer is:

stall

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'delay' is the definition.
(I know that stall is a more specific form of the action delay)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stall that I've seen before include "Market stand; delay" , "seat in church" , "Come to a halt" , "A stand in a market-place" , "outlet at a fair" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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