Quick crossword No 108

Hints, tips and solution blog can be found here https://reinterred.blogspot.com/2023/04/weekend-cryptic-74-solution.html from Friday 7th

Thanks for the great puzzle johninterred, and really enjoyed the theme! Highlights for me include 14a and 5d - I made heavy weather of the bottom right but very happy with 22d and 24a in the end.

Thanks, John, it got harder top to bottom. By chance I did this while sitting in the Warner Stand at Lord's watching the season's opener, Middlesex v Essex.

I started well with CREASE and worked my way around the grid without too many long pauses and finished with ASTUTER in just 22 minutes. Following a tip-off from our setter earlier in the week, I was on the look out for a reverse cryptic and I duly spotted it (MAKE SENSE), although probably only at the third or fourth attempt. I really need more practice at these. The theme was very easy to spot, of course, but it sparked optimistic thought about the months ahead. Many thanks, John.