Crossword Genius

Enthusiast left to bag runs before end of daily practice match (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

friendly

'practice match' is the definition.
(eg a friendly football match)

'enthusiast left to bag runs before end of daily' is the wordplay.
'enthusiast' becomes 'fiend' (fiend can mean someone addicted to something).
'left' becomes 'l' (common abbreviation).
'to bag' indicates putting letters inside.
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'before end of daily' becomes 'y' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'fiend'+'l'='fiendl'
'fiendl' placed around 'r' is 'friendl'.
'friendl'+'y'='FRIENDLY'

(Other definitions for friendly that I've seen before include "Kind, pleasant" , "Well-disposed" , "match?" , "Sociable" , "One is obviously on good terms with" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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