Crossword Genius

Smaller runner runs poorly (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

rill

'smaller runner' is the definition.
(small sort of stream, which might 'run')

'runs poorly' is the wordplay.
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'poorly' becomes 'ill' ('ill' can be a synonym of 'poorly').
'r'+'ill'='RILL'

(Other definitions for rill that I've seen before include "Brooklet" , "Burn" , "Small stream" , "Small brook" , "Flow of water" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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