Crossword Genius

Heading to take a run, needlessly at the end, it’s perhaps a four (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

boundary

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'a four' is the definition.
(cricket term)

'heading to take a run needlessly at the end it's' is the wordplay.
'heading' means one lot of letters go next to another (some letters go in front of or head others).
'to take' becomes 'r' (recipe is latin for take - r is abbreviation).
'run' indicates anagramming the letters.
'at the end' suggests the final letters.
'it's' becomes 'bound' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
The final letter of 'needlessly' is 'y'.
'r'+'a'='ra'
'ra' with letters rearranged gives 'ar'.
'ar'+'y'='ary'
'ary' put after 'bound' is 'BOUNDARY'.

'perhaps' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for boundary that I've seen before include "line between states" , "Sharp division" , "Limit; hit at cricket" , "Line determining the limits of an area" , "Border (especially in cricket)" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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