Revenge of the Cryptic Crossword Sudoku

Question

_{This puzzle is inspired by Matt’s excellent Cryptic Sucrosswordoku.}

Below is a sudoku as well as some cryptic clues. The clues lack enumeration and are in no relevant order. The solutions to the clues can be assembled into a path-connected rotationally symmetric crossword inside the sudoku, with each solution beginning in a square whose number is the same as the clue’s enumeration (i.e. the solution's length). Given this information, you should be able to deduce the possible enumerations and the form of the crossword itself. Your job is to assemble the crossword atop the sudoku.

(When stating the solution to the sudoku, briefly describe the strategy you used to find it.)

1. An adorable accent
2. An individual who returns an angry speech gets even
3. A sleigh carries a ring of flowers
4. Black sheep escape players
5. Do-gooder heads in, down on club
6. Fellow with ugly lace put in chains
7. Give a mischief-making child a disgusting rat
8. Harmonious type of character
9. Some strays consumed half-nude lads and lasses in military school
10. Star spurns every other character in it
11. Starts to laugh oddly in an auditorium so all can hear
12. Takes spoils from plenty; receives nothing

Answer 1

(I disagree with the other answer. The sudoku is solvable, though there is an extremely hard step involving removing a candidate 7 from a cell. We don't have to guess.)

STEP 1:

And here are a couple of steps to how I got there:

STEP 2:

Here is the only possible grid (with 180 degree rotational symmetry):

STEP 3:

Now we have the enumerations: 8, 3, 7, 5, 6, 7, 5, 5, 9, 6, 3, 8

All cryptics have been solved:

1 from Volatility: (5)

ACUTE - A CUTE and ACUTE ACCENT

2 from Volatility: (8)

REVENANT - R(EVEN)ANT

3 from dcfyj: (3)

LEI - sleigh

4 from Roger: (7)

OUTCAST (escape = OUT, players = CAST

5 from Rubio and MOehm: (8)

BLUDGEON - (BLU(DG)E+ON)

6: (7)

MANACLE - man (fellow) + anagrammed (ugly) lace - means to chain

7 from Roger: (6)

IMPART (IMP + anag. RAT)

8 from Gareth McCaughan: (9)

CONSONANT - double def

9 from Roger: (6)

CADETS (CA(DE)TS)

10: (3)

SUN - star, every other character of spurns

11 from Volatility: (5)

ALOUD - A(L_O_)UD

12 from Volatility: (5)

LOOTS - LO(O)TS

And therefore the crossword completed looks like:

Answer 2

Partial answer:

4 - Black sheep escape players (7)

OUTCAST (escape = OUT, players = CAST)

6 - Fellow with ugly lace put in chains (7)

MANACLE (MAN + anag. LACE)

7 - Give a mischief-making child a disgusting rat (6)

IMPART (IMP + anag. RAT)

9 - Some strays consumed half-nude lads and lasses in military school (6)

CADETS (CA(DE)TS)

Answer 3

Partial answer:

How to solve the sudoku:

We can easily fill in the following:

I got stuck. So, I had to guess a number. I tried adding a 9 on A9 but this lead to a non-valid sudoku.

So, I added a 7 there (marked red). However, I got stuck a second time. The easiest number to continue is another 7 in the middle left box (B6). I was then able to complete it.

I can't really solve those crypto's yet.. :/