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RCB vs DC, IPL 2026: Hitting the hard length has been my strength, says Josh Hazlewood  In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck to the tried and trusted.The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler revels in honing in on a hard length, making it tough for batters to get under and slog.This classical approach has worked well not just in the two IPL matches he has played thus far, but in the previous season as well.Now back to full fitness, Hazlewood is a natural fit as leader of the RCB attack.“We see different bowlers in our group have different styles, so I try to copy a different ball here and there. But at the same time, you first and foremost rely on your strengths. Obviously, my strength is hitting the length, and hitting it hard. It’s not about floating the ball up; it’s not about digging it in. It is about making it hard for the batter to hit me off that length,” Hazlewood said on the eve of RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals.RELATED | Delhi Capitals looks to stop marauding Royal Challengers BengaluruThe 35-year-old is doubly dangerous if the pitch is not a batting beauty, as seen in RCB’s fixture against Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.“The other night, the pitch actually helped a little bit. It was hard to time the ball; the pitch was a bit up-and-down. If you’re on a nice glassy pitch and everything’s coming onto the bat nicely, then things have to change, and you try a few different things,” Hazlewood said.Published on Apr 17, 2026  #RCB #IPL #Hitting #hard #length #strength #Josh #Hazlewood

RCB vs DC, IPL 2026: Hitting the hard length has been my strength, says Josh Hazlewood

In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck to the tried and trusted.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler revels in honing in on a hard length, making it tough for batters to get under and slog.

This classical approach has worked well not just in the two IPL matches he has played thus far, but in the previous season as well.

Now back to full fitness, Hazlewood is a natural fit as leader of the RCB attack.

“We see different bowlers in our group have different styles, so I try to copy a different ball here and there. But at the same time, you first and foremost rely on your strengths. Obviously, my strength is hitting the length, and hitting it hard. It’s not about floating the ball up; it’s not about digging it in. It is about making it hard for the batter to hit me off that length,” Hazlewood said on the eve of RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals.

RELATED | Delhi Capitals looks to stop marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru

The 35-year-old is doubly dangerous if the pitch is not a batting beauty, as seen in RCB’s fixture against Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.

“The other night, the pitch actually helped a little bit. It was hard to time the ball; the pitch was a bit up-and-down. If you’re on a nice glassy pitch and everything’s coming onto the bat nicely, then things have to change, and you try a few different things,” Hazlewood said.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#RCB #IPL #Hitting #hard #length #strength #Josh #Hazlewood

In a format which places high value on variations and innovations, Josh Hazlewood has stuck to the tried and trusted.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler revels in honing in on a hard length, making it tough for batters to get under and slog.

This classical approach has worked well not just in the two IPL matches he has played thus far, but in the previous season as well.

Now back to full fitness, Hazlewood is a natural fit as leader of the RCB attack.

“We see different bowlers in our group have different styles, so I try to copy a different ball here and there. But at the same time, you first and foremost rely on your strengths. Obviously, my strength is hitting the length, and hitting it hard. It’s not about floating the ball up; it’s not about digging it in. It is about making it hard for the batter to hit me off that length,” Hazlewood said on the eve of RCB’s game against Delhi Capitals.

RELATED | Delhi Capitals looks to stop marauding Royal Challengers Bengaluru

The 35-year-old is doubly dangerous if the pitch is not a batting beauty, as seen in RCB’s fixture against Lucknow Super Giants here on Wednesday.

“The other night, the pitch actually helped a little bit. It was hard to time the ball; the pitch was a bit up-and-down. If you’re on a nice glassy pitch and everything’s coming onto the bat nicely, then things have to change, and you try a few different things,” Hazlewood said.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

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#RCB #IPL #Hitting #hard #length #strength #Josh #Hazlewood

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Deadspin | Liberty re-sign Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/21155995.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/21155995.jpg" alt="WNBA: Las Vegas Aces at New York Liberty" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Aug 6, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty forwards Jonquel Jones (35) and Breanna Stewart (30) and guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) watch the game from the bench in the fourth quarter against the Las Vegas Aces at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>New York Liberty stars Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones signed contracts for the 2026 season, the team announced on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Financial terms were not disclosed by the team.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“This is an incredibly historic moment for the New York Liberty franchise,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said. “Re-signing Breanna, Jonquel and Sabrina reflects the trust, sacrifice and shared purpose that define what it means to represent the Liberty, this city and our fanbase. The three cornerstone players chose to invest in each other and the long-term legacy of this organization, a rare commitment that has the chance to redefine that standard of excellence across basketball.”</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Stewart, a forward, and Ionescu, a guard, announced earlier this month that they planned to re-sign with New York, ending suspense over their intentions as free agents.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Stewart, 31, will embark on her fourth season with the Liberty and 10th WNBA campaign overall. She is a two-time MVP, winning the award with the Seattle Storm in 2018 and with New York in 2023.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>Stewart averaged 18.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 31 games last season. She was named an All-Star for the seventh time.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>The three-time WNBA champion — 2018 and 2020 with Seattle, 2024 with New York — has career averages of 20.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 292 games (all starts).</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Ionescu, 28, will be entering her seventh season and has spent her entire career with the Liberty. She was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2020 and is a four-time All-Star.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>The Oregon product averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.9 rebounds in 38 games last season.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Ionsecu has career averages of 16.7 points, 5.9 assists and 5.5 rebounds in 181 games (177 starts). She has won one WNBA title (2024).</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Jones, 32, averaged 13.6 points and 8.1 rebounds in 31 games (all starts) last season. A 2021 WNBA MVP, Jones averaged 13.4 points and 8.4 boards in 306 career games (259 starts) with the Connecticut Sun and Liberty.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Liberty #resign #Breanna #Stewart #Sabrina #Ionescu #Jonquel #Jones

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Gang Green Nation selects Makai Lemon for Jets in 20th annual SB Nation community mock draft <div id="cyclone-embed-body-1f462a25-7276-480c-aaff-f38c9d11a4de"><p>To call wide receiver a need for the Jets would be an understatement. In 2025 the Jets became the first team since the league expanded the schedule to 16 games to have no receivers with at least 400 yards. Getting Garrett Wilson back from injury obviously will help with that, but there is nothing behind Wilson. Adding Lemon changes that. Stick him in the slot, and he can take some of the pressure off Wilson. In fact, the Jets’ wide receiver group now starts to look like something resembling a viable NFL crew.</p></div> #Gang #Green #Nation #selects #Makai #Lemon #Jets #20th #annual #Nation #community #mock #draft

Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.

Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.

Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.

The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.

Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot.

Coventry City returns to the Premier League after 25 years  Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot. Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    “It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told        Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.BROADCAST INCOMEPromotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds (0 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League. It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years

Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park. | Photo Credit: Reuters

lightbox-info

Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park. | Photo Credit: Reuters

“It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.

“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.

“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”

As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.

BROADCAST INCOME

Promotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds ($230 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.

On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.

Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League.

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in. | Photo Credit: Reuters

lightbox-info

It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.

Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.

Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.

Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.

Published on Apr 18, 2026

#Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years">Coventry City returns to the Premier League after 25 years  Coventry City ended its 25-year absence from the Premier League with a 1-1 ‌draw at Blackburn Rovers, securing promotion from the Championship with three games to ​spare on Friday.Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.Blackburn had taken the lead shortly after the interval with a deflected shot by Ryoya Morishita.The promotion party got ‌going after Thomas’s glancing header and the final whistle sparked celebrations on the pitch and delirious scenes among the 7,500 travelling fans.Coventry tops the table with ‌86 points from 43 games, 13 ahead of third-placed Millwall, which can no longer ‌catch it. Ipswich Town, Millwall, Southampton and Middlesbrough are battling for the second automatic ⁠promotion spot. Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            Needing only a point to make it mathematically certain, Frank ⁠Lampard’s league-leader salvaged a draw as Bobby Thomas headed a late equaliser at Ewood Park.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    “It was an incredible moment (when Thomas scored),” former Chelsea and England midfielder Lampard told        Sky Sports. “We knew we were nearly there but to get it over the line after 25 years, wow! It’s amazing. What (the fans) ​have gone through.”It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.“This is a serious football club. These boys have achieved something unique. This is right up there for me,” he said.“I was fortunate to be in great ‌Chelsea teams, winning league titles and Champions Leagues but to do this I’m ​very proud to be their manager.”As well as regaining its place amongst the elite for the first time in a generation, promotion will have a ⁠massive financial impact for Coventry — a club which has been through the mill since relegation a quarter of a century ago.BROADCAST INCOMEPromotion from the Championship to the Premier League is worth around ‌120 million to 170 million pounds (0 million) over three seasons, driven largely by a surge in broadcast income, with even the bottom club in the top flight earning more than 100 million pounds in central distributions in its first season.On Friday though it was not the money but the pure joy for the visiting fans as Lampard’s side completed the job.Coventry spent 34 consecutive seasons in England’s top flight after promotion in 1967 and survived countless ‌relegation battles before succumbing in 2000-01 when it finished 19th in the Premier League. It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                            

                            It was former England and ‌Chelsea midfielder Lampard’s first promotion as a manager and he was clearly emotional as the achievement sank in.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Reuters
                                                    Financial hard times followed and it was relegated to the third tier in 2012 and was forced to ground share with Northampton Town after a rent dispute over its new stadium.Coventry’s ⁠low point on the pitch arrived in 2017 when it was relegated to the fourth tier ⁠for the first time since 1959 and although it was promoted the following season, it was again forced away from its stadium between 2019 and 2021, playing ‌home games at Birmingham City’s ground.Coventry came close to a Premier League return twice, reaching the Championship playoff final in 2022-23 and bowing out in the semifinals last season.Lampard ​took charge in November 2024 and steered it to fifth in the Championship last season.Published on Apr 18, 2026  #Coventry #City #returns #Premier #League #years

Deadspin | Matt Fitzpatrick catches break en route to 63, takes RBC Heritage lead  Apr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.  Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.  Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).  There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a  million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).   Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.  His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.  Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #leadApr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.

Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).


There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a $20 million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).

Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.

His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.

Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #lead">Deadspin | Matt Fitzpatrick catches break en route to 63, takes RBC Heritage lead  Apr 17, 2026; Hilton Head, South Carolina, USA; Matt Fitzpatrick putts on 16 green during the second round of the RBC Heritage golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images   Matt Fitzpatrick of England shot a spotless, 8-under 63 to vault into the lead halfway through the RBC Heritage on Friday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.  Fitzpatrick climbed to 14-under 128 at Harbour Town Golf Links, while Norway’s Viktor Hovland came close to tying him at the end of the day but settled for a 65 and second place at 13 under.  Harris English sits third at 10 under following a 68, and first-round leader Ludvig Aberg of Sweden made three back-nine bogeys on his way to 70, slipping into a tie at 9 under with Patrick Cantlay (64) and Austrian Sepp Straka (67).  There is no 36-hole cut at the post-Masters signature event with a  million purse. Justin Thomas, last year’s champion, will be grateful to see the weekend as he’s fallen to dead last in the 82-man field following rounds of 76 and 75 (9 over).   Fitzpatrick, 31, won the Heritage in 2023 in its first year as a signature event. With the course comfortability came a lucky break at the par-3 14th on Friday.  His tee shot flew far left of the green, but his ball appeared to bounce off a tree and a cart path to come back to the green with some speed. It nearly rolled all the way off into the water, but a sprinkler head helped bring it to a stop. The head allowed Fitzpatrick a free drop for relief, and from just off the green he drilled a 33-foot putt for birdie.  Akshay Bhatia matched Fitzpatrick for the round of the day, shooting 63 and tying a tournament single-round record with 11 birdies. After a poor first round, he moved up to 6 under on the leaderboard.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Matt #Fitzpatrick #catches #break #route #takes #RBC #Heritage #lead

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