Maiden maybe beset by compassion, not one in need (7)
I believe the answer is:
poverty
'need' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'maiden maybe beset by compassion not one' is the wordplay.
'maiden maybe' becomes 'over' (maiden is a type of over in cricket).
'beset by' indicates putting letters inside ('beset' could historically mean 'cover').
'compassion' becomes 'pity' (synonyms).
'not' is a deletion indicator.
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'pity' with 'i' taken away is 'pty'.
'over' placed into 'pty' is 'POVERTY'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for poverty that I've seen before include "Penury" , "Need" , "Lack of money etc" , "Indigence" , "'When ....... comes in at the door, love flies out of the window'" .)