### Clue: Hold up progress, partly thanks to new alliance (9)
### Answer: STONEWALL 
 ### Explanation: Definition: Hold up progress
  ***Hidden in***(partly) thankS TO NEW ALLiance.  Very cleverly hidden.
Defn:   To obstruct,block,hinder progress of business, be it passing of a bill in parliament, or play in the cricket field.  The former by excessive or prolonged debate, and the latter by the batsmen's defensive play, which I hazard is what has given cricket a bad name as a spectator sport.  A WIWD clue.