Play for time protecting whole wicket (9)
I believe the answer is:
stonewall
'play for time protecting whole wicket' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'play for time protecting whole wicket' is the wordplay.
'play for time' becomes 'stall' (I've seen this before).
'protecting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are held or protected).
'whole' becomes 'one' (synonyms).
'wicket' becomes 'w'.
'one'+'w'='onew'
'stall' going around 'onew' is 'STONEWALL'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stonewall that I've seen before include "Obstruct by refusing to answer questions" , "Delay or block (a proposal's) progress" , "Stand firm" , "Play or obstruct defensively" , "Play to defend" .)