Cried distractedly on finishing last, we believe (6)
I believe the answer is:
credit
'believe' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cried distractedly on finishing last' is the wordplay.
'distractedly' indicates an anagram.
'on' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'finishing' indicates one should take the final letters (the letter which finishes the word).
The final letter of 'last' is 't'.
'cried' anagrammed gives 'credi'.
'credi'+'t'='CREDIT'
'we' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may belong to another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for credit that I've seen before include "Tick - distinction" , "Favourable balance - belief" , "Acknowledgment, recognition or praise" , "Favourable balance - good repute" , "Positive bank balance" .)