Items batsmen hit in the air for slip (5-2)
I believe the answer is:
balls-up
'slip' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'items batsmen hit in the air' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'in the air' could be 'up' and 'up' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'balls' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'for' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for balls-up that I've seen is " disaster".)