Fierce fight between wickets? (7,6)
I believe the answer is:
pitched battle
'between wickets?' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'fierce fight' is the wordplay.
'fierce' becomes 'pitched' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'fight' becomes 'battle' (battling is a kind of fighting).
'pitched'+'battle'='PITCHED BATTLE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pitched battle that I've seen before include "Culloden (1746), for example" , "Prearranged military engagement" , "Prearranged skirmish" , "Furious combat" , "Violent confrontation" .)