Dt 28,882

[aelmpvw]

20d some ballast initially, a good defence against flooding (7)
i have sandbag, i can parse b a g but where does sand come from?

[JJ109]

Some ballast initially = s and b + a g(ood)

[dannyk13]

s(ome) and b(allast) + a +g(ood)

[aelmpvw]

thank you both, i'm not impressed with the clue though :-)

[donny48]

Like you, Aelmpvw, I was looking for something that specifically pointed to "and" but did not realise that one could assume "and" to be between some - ballast.

[murraymints]

morning Donny XX..OO..XX..

[donny48]

Hello Minty XXOOXX

[aelmpvw]

i'm glad i wasn't the only one donny ...

[JJ109]

Just normal compiler's construction
eg Abandons steven trevor robert smith initially = STR and S