Pungent account run by certain papers (5)
I believe the answer is:
acrid
'pungent' is the definition.
(I know that pungent can be written as acrid)
'account run by certain papers' is the wordplay.
'account' becomes 'ac' (abbreviation for account).
'run' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'certain papers' becomes 'ID' (identification).
'ac'+'r'+'id'='ACRID'
(Other definitions for acrid that I've seen before include "Unpleasantly strong-smelling" , "Pungent; caustic" , "Sour, pungent" , "Sharp-smelling like smoke" , "Astringent" .)