Crossword Genius

Length of the pitch when batting after tea (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

chain

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'length of the pitch' is the definition.
'chain' can be an answer for 'length' (I've seen this before). I'm unsure of the 'of the pitch' bit.

'batting after tea' is the wordplay.
'batting' becomes 'in' (as in batting or being 'in' in cricket).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'tea' becomes 'cha' (cha is a type of tea).
'in' after 'cha' is 'CHAIN'.

'when' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for chain that I've seen before include "Shackle" , "lots of shops?" , "Tie" , "Fetter" , "Series of things linked together" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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