Exploits cricket's principal trophy when batting (6,2)

I believe the answer is:

cashes in

'exploits' is the definition.

'cricket's principal trophy when batting' is the wordplay.
'principal' suggests taking the first letters.
'trophy' becomes 'ashes' (I've seen this before).
'when batting' becomes 'in' (in cricket the side that's 'in' is batting).
The first letter of 'crickets' is 'c'.
'c'+'ashes'+'in'='CASHES IN'

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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