Holy object oddly laid in playing field (5)
I believe the answer is:
relic
'holy object' is the definition.
(object associated with a holy figure)
'oddly laid in playing field' is the wordplay.
'oddly' indicates alternate letters (letters in the odd-numbered positions are used).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'playing field' becomes 'rec' (short for recreation ground).
The alternate letters of 'laid' are 'li'.
'li' going within 'rec' is 'RELIC'.
(Other definitions for relic that I've seen before include "Overshadow in importance" , "Item surviving from the past" , "Fossil" , "E,g. dead saint's bone" , "Memorial of antiquity" .)