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IPL 2026: ‘Difference was four sixes … we couldn’t find that,’ laments MI coach Jayawardene after loss  Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene conceded that his team’s bowling plans failed, particularly early on, in its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.Royals’ openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi blazed their way to 80 runs from just five overs in the rain-shortened game. The away team never recovered from the early burst and later slid to a 27-run defeat.“We had some plans [for Jaiswal and Suryavanshi], but I don’t think we executed those,” admitted Jayawardene at the post-match press conference on Wednesday.“The margins are very small. These guys are practising really well. We knew the danger, especially when it is rain-curtailed, and they have the license to go up front. I think we missed our line and lengths, and they played really well,” said Jayawardene.The former Sri Lankan captain also pointed out that his side could have dragged the game closer with a better performance with the bat.“We just needed a couple of partnerships. We lost a few early wickets and lost the momentum.  If you look at the end, the difference was four sixes. It was four hits for us, [but] we just couldn’t find that.“And that without us getting into a rhythm or someone getting a quick 30 or 40 up top. We never thought that it was out of our reach. So, those were the margins. I think they played a really good game today. We were not good enough, and that’s what we have to work on,” said Jayawardene.The MI coach also added that left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was rested on Tuesday as a precaution. “Mitch had a little niggle when he came off during the last game. So, it was a precaution that he wasn’t 100 per cent for him to play this game. But hopefully, he’ll be fit for our next game.”Published on Apr 08, 2026  #IPL #Difference #sixes #couldnt #find #laments #coach #Jayawardene #loss

IPL 2026: ‘Difference was four sixes … we couldn’t find that,’ laments MI coach Jayawardene after loss

Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene conceded that his team’s bowling plans failed, particularly early on, in its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.

Royals’ openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi blazed their way to 80 runs from just five overs in the rain-shortened game. The away team never recovered from the early burst and later slid to a 27-run defeat.

“We had some plans [for Jaiswal and Suryavanshi], but I don’t think we executed those,” admitted Jayawardene at the post-match press conference on Wednesday.

“The margins are very small. These guys are practising really well. We knew the danger, especially when it is rain-curtailed, and they have the license to go up front. I think we missed our line and lengths, and they played really well,” said Jayawardene.

The former Sri Lankan captain also pointed out that his side could have dragged the game closer with a better performance with the bat.

“We just needed a couple of partnerships. We lost a few early wickets and lost the momentum. If you look at the end, the difference was four sixes. It was four hits for us, [but] we just couldn’t find that.

“And that without us getting into a rhythm or someone getting a quick 30 or 40 up top. We never thought that it was out of our reach. So, those were the margins. I think they played a really good game today. We were not good enough, and that’s what we have to work on,” said Jayawardene.

The MI coach also added that left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was rested on Tuesday as a precaution. “Mitch had a little niggle when he came off during the last game. So, it was a precaution that he wasn’t 100 per cent for him to play this game. But hopefully, he’ll be fit for our next game.”

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#IPL #Difference #sixes #couldnt #find #laments #coach #Jayawardene #loss

Mumbai Indians (MI) head coach Mahela Jayawardene conceded that his team’s bowling plans failed, particularly early on, in its Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 defeat to Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.

Royals’ openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi blazed their way to 80 runs from just five overs in the rain-shortened game. The away team never recovered from the early burst and later slid to a 27-run defeat.

“We had some plans [for Jaiswal and Suryavanshi], but I don’t think we executed those,” admitted Jayawardene at the post-match press conference on Wednesday.

“The margins are very small. These guys are practising really well. We knew the danger, especially when it is rain-curtailed, and they have the license to go up front. I think we missed our line and lengths, and they played really well,” said Jayawardene.

The former Sri Lankan captain also pointed out that his side could have dragged the game closer with a better performance with the bat.

“We just needed a couple of partnerships. We lost a few early wickets and lost the momentum. If you look at the end, the difference was four sixes. It was four hits for us, [but] we just couldn’t find that.

“And that without us getting into a rhythm or someone getting a quick 30 or 40 up top. We never thought that it was out of our reach. So, those were the margins. I think they played a really good game today. We were not good enough, and that’s what we have to work on,” said Jayawardene.

The MI coach also added that left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was rested on Tuesday as a precaution. “Mitch had a little niggle when he came off during the last game. So, it was a precaution that he wasn’t 100 per cent for him to play this game. But hopefully, he’ll be fit for our next game.”

Published on Apr 08, 2026

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Deadspin | Late rallies lift Cardinals to 10-inning win over Nationals <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-900/28679341.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28679341.jpg" alt="MLB: St. Louis Cardinals at Washington Nationals" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez (26) dives back to first base in front of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) during a pick off attempt during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Thomas Saggese and JJ Wetherholt hit run-scoring doubles in the 10th inning and the visiting St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Tuesday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Saggese led off with a double off Cole Henry (0-2) to score automatic runner Masyn Winn with the go-ahead run. Saggese went to third on a groundout, and after Nathan Church struck out, Wetherholt doubled to right, scoring Saggese to make it 7-5.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Jorbit Vivas was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the 10th, and Washington later scored a run on a wild pitch, but Riley O’Brien struck out Nasim Nunez to end it for his third save.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Jordan Walker homered for the second straight night and Church also went deep for the Cardinals. Nolan Gorman had three hits.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>George Soriano (1-0) fanned three in two perfect innings for the win.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>James Wood homered for the third straight game for Washington, and Curtis Mead had three hits, including a home run.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>St. Louis has won two of the past three games while Washington took its sixth loss in the past seven contests.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-8"> <p>With St. Louis trailing 5-3, Winn led off the eighth with a walk against Gus Varland. Two outs later, Church snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a game-tying home run.</p> </section> <section id="section-9"> <p>Wetherholt walked against Cade Cavalli leading off the game, then stole second and went to third on a single by Alec Burleson. Walker hit a potential inning-ending double-play grounder, but shortstop CJ Abrams misplayed it and a run scored. Gorman singled home Burleson to make it 2-0.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Wood opened the Washington first with a single, and with one out, Brady House and Daylin Lile hit back-to-back singles to score him.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Wood led off the third with a homer to left-center to tie it 2-2.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Mead went deep with one out in the fifth to give Washington the lead. With two outs, Lile walked, went to third on Joey Wiemer’s single and scored when Abrams singled to right.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Wood walked with two outs in the sixth, stole second and scored on a Mead single to make it 5-2.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Walker homered in the seventh to pull St. Louis within 5-3.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Cavalli gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three. St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore allowed four runs on nine hits over four innings. He fanned six and walked two.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-16"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Late #rallies #lift #Cardinals #10inning #win #Nationals

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Deadspin | Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto deals in return to Toronto vs. Blue Jays <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-900/28679343.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28679343.jpg" alt="MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Toronto Blue Jays" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 7, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched an effective six-plus innings Tuesday night and the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1. </p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Yamamoto (2-1) allowed one run, five hits and one walk with six strikeouts in his first appearance back in the stadium where he was named World Series MVP last year after closing out Game 7.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Edwin Diaz pitched around a single and a walk in the ninth to earn his fourth save.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Alex Freeland had three hits for the Dodgers, who have won five in a row while the Blue Jays have lost six straight.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Los Angeles took a 2-0 lead in the third against Kevin Gausman (0-1), who opposed Yamamoto in Games 2 and 6 of the World Series. </p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Hyeseong Kim, starting at shortstop after Miguel Rojas was a late scratch because of a family matter, opened with a double to right center. He took third when Freeland reached first on a sacrifice bunt. Gausman’s throw to first hit Freeland. Shohei Ohtani lined an RBI single high off the right field wall, and Freeland scored from third on Will Smith’s fielder’s choice.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>Toronto manager John Schneider was ejected in the fifth for arguing a balk call on Gausman. That moved Kim, who led off the inning with a walk, to second. He scored on Freeland‘s single.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>Mason Fluharty replaced Gausman with one out and two on in the sixth.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Gausman allowed three runs, five hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Yamamoto retired 12 in a row before Andres Gimenez singled to right to lead off the home sixth. George Springer lashed an RBI double to right center with one out. </p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Freeland led off the seventh with a double, but Fluharty retired the next two hitters before Louis Varland replaced him to get the final out.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Kazuma Okamoto led off the Toronto seventh with a double to center. He took third on Ernie Clement’s bunt single to third. Alex Vesia replaced Yamamoto and walked pinch hitter Davis Schneider to load the bases. Vesia worked out of the jam with two shallow flyouts and a strikeout.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Los Angeles added a run in the ninth against Jeff Hoffman when Freeland reached second on a two-out infield hit and an error by catcher Brandon Valenzuela. Kyle Tucker brought him home with an RBI single.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-14"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Dodgers #Yoshinobu #Yamamoto #deals #return #Toronto #Blue #Jays

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making  When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.  #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8  Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026  #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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