South Africa and Zimbabwe cruise while Italy crushed by Scotland in T20 World Cup debut

AHEMDABAD, India (AP) — After an action-packed weekend at the T20 World Cup, Monday was sedate with undemanding wins by South Africa, Zimbabwe and late replacement Scotland.

South Africa notched a tournament-high 213-4 against Canada and won by 57 runs in Ahmedabad.

Zimbabwe bowled out Oman for 103 and won by eight wickets with 6.3 overs to spare in Colombo.

Italy’s 45-year wait for World Cup cricket ended in a 73-run defeat against Scotland in Kolkata and captain Wayne Madsen dislocated his shoulder.

South Africa, the 2024 runner-up, built a daunting total on the back of skipper Aiden Markram.

He scored 59 off 32 balls with 10 fours and a six, and shared partnerships of 70 with Quinton de Kock and 56 with Ryan Rickelton.

The 100 was brought up in 9.5 overs, and Markram reached 50 off 28.

Momentum slowed when left-arm spinner Ansh Patel took out Markram, Rickelton and Dewald Brevis but David Miller and Tristan Stubbs lifted them past 200 with an unbeaten stand of 75 runs off the last 37 balls.

The target was too tall for Canada.

Proteas pacer Lungi Ngidi picked 4-31 in four overs, hitting the top order hard with three wickets in 12 balls. Canada was reduced to 26-3 in three overs and 45-4 before the end of powerplay.

Canada finished on 156-8, Navneet Dhaliwal falling in the last over for 64 off 49, his second T20 World Cup half-century.

Italy was set a mighty 208 to win by Scotland and crashed to 137 all out in 16.4 overs.

Italy's Madsen didn't bat because he damaged his left shoulder while attempting a catch at mid-wicket.

There was a silver lining when Benjamin Manenti scored 52 off 31. Benjamin and his brother Harry (37) briefly threatened with a 73-run stand until they fell in consecutive overs. Italy lost its last six wickets for 21 runs.

“I imagine everyone will be flat in the dressing room and disappointed,” vice-captain Harry Manenti said. “We wanted to show the world what we have. We get another chance in a few days’ time (against Nepal in Mumbai on Thursday) and hopefully we can bounce back.”

Scotland opener George Munsey starred with a blazing 84 off 54 balls including 13 boundaries and two sixes. The 207-4 was the highest ever total by an associate team in the tournament.

Munsey also held four catches, including a brilliant low catch at point to dismiss opener Justin Mosca off the first ball.

Italy succumbed to off-spinner Michael Leask, who took an impressive 4-17.

Scotland lost to Italy in the World Cup qualifiers but replaced Bangladesh just two weeks before the World Cup and lost to the West Indies at the same venue in its first game.

Munsey set the tempo with the first century partnership of the tournament, 126 runs with opening partner Michael Jones (37).

Munsey missed out on a century when he holed out at long-on in the 14th over to fast bowler Grant Stewart. He threw his bat in the air in frustration.

Brandon McMullen added 41 off 18 balls and Leask a finishing 22 off five balls, hitting two fours and two sixes in the final over.

Zimbabwe’s pace attack blew away Oman. Blessing Muzarabani picked 3-16 in four overs, Richard Ngarava 3-17 and Brad Evans 3-18.

Oman was down to 27-5 in seven overs, crossed 100 in the final over, and was all out for 103 with a ball to spare. Vinay Shukla top-scored with 28 off 21 — just three batters reached double figures.

Zimbabwe chased down the win in a hurry. Brian Bennett wast 48 not out off 36 balls, including seven boundaries. Brendan Taylor scored 31 off 30 when he retired hurt, hobbling off with a suspected hamstring issue.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Zimbabwe's Brian Bennett hits a boundary during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Oman and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Zimbabwe's Blessing Muzarabani, right, celebrates the wicket of Oman's Karan Sonavale during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Oman and Zimbabwe in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

South Africa's captain Aiden Markram plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Canada and South Africa in Ahmedabad, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Italy's Harry Manenti plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Italy and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Scotland's Michael Leask, second left, celebrates the wicket of Italy's Harry Manenti with teammates during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Italy and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Scotland's George Munsey plays a shot during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Italy and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Italy's Benjamin Manenti leaves the ground after losing his wicket during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Italy and Scotland in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Scotland players stand for the national anthems of the respective countries before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between them in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Italy players stand for the national anthems of the respective countries before the start of the T20 World Cup cricket match between them in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury found Wednesday that entertainment giant Live Nation, which hosts tens of thousands of concerts a year, and its Ticketmaster subsidiary had a harmful monopoly over big venues.

The ruling, in a lawsuit brought by dozens of states, won’t immediately bring relief for concertgoers who have long complained about high ticket prices. But it could cost Live Nation hundreds of millions of dollars and perhaps force the company to sell some of its concert venues when the judge hands out penalties later.

Among other things, the jury found Ticketmaster's anticompetitive practices led to people in 22 states paying an extra $1.72 per ticket, which the judge could order the companies to pay back.

A jury in New York deliberated for four days before reaching its decision. State attorneys general who sued Live Nation said the verdict could potentially lead to lower ticket prices for music fans.

Live Nation said in a statement that the verdict “is not the last word on this matter.”

The company predicted that once a remedy phase of the litigation is completed before the judge and all appeals are resolved, the outcome likely won't be much different from what the federal government achieved with a settlement it reached with the company just after the trial began.

That deal included a cap on service fees at some amphitheaters, plus some new ticket-selling options for promoters and venues — potentially allowing, but not requiring, them to open doors to Ticketmaster competitors such as SeatGeek or AXS.

The trial gave fans the equivalent of a backstage pass to a business that dominates live entertainment in the U.S. and beyond.

Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino testified, answering questions about matters including the company’s Taylor Swift ticket debacle in 2022. Rapino blamed a cyberattack.

Jurors also got to see a Live Nation employee’s internal messages to another employee declaring some prices “outrageous,” calling customers “so stupid” and boasting that the company was “robbing them blind, baby.” The employee, Benjamin Baker, who has since been promoted to a position as a ticketing executive, apologetically testified that the messages were “very immature and unacceptable.”

Live Nation Entertainment owns, operates, controls booking for or has an equity interest in hundreds of venues. Its subsidiary Ticketmaster is widely considered to be the world’s largest ticket-seller for live events.

The verdict could cost Live Nation and Ticketmaster hundreds of millions of dollars, based on the jury's estimate that customers paid an extra $1.72 per ticket. The companies could also be assessed penalties. In addition, sanctions could result in court orders that they divest themselves of some entities, including venues such as amphitheaters that they own.

In its statement, Live Nation said the jury's award of $1.72 per ticket applied to “a limited number of tickets” sold at 257 venues and representing about 20% of total tickets sold. The company estimated the aggregate single damages figure would be below $150 million, though it would be trebled.

The civil case, initially led by the U.S. government, accused Live Nation of using its reach to smother competition — by blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers, for example.

Live Nation insisted it is not a monopoly, saying that artists, sports teams and venues decide prices and ticketing practices. A company lawyer said its size was simply a function of excellence and effort.

“Success is not against the antitrust laws in the United States,” attorney David Marriott said in his summation.

Ticketmaster was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010. The company now controls of 86% of the market for concerts and 73% of the overall market when sports events are included, according to an attorney for the states, Jeffrey Kessler.

Ticketmaster has long drawn ire from fans and some artists. Grunge rock titans Pearl Jam battled the business in the 1990s, even filing an anti-monopoly complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice, which declined to bring a case then.

Decades later, the Justice Department, joined by dozens of states, brought the current lawsuit during Democratic former President Joe Biden's administration.

Days into the trial, Republican President Donald Trump's administration announced it was settling its claims against Live Nation.

A handful of the states joined the settlement. But more than 30 pressed ahead with the trial, saying the federal government hadn't gotten enough concessions.

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a release after the verdict that Live Nation's “illegal, anti-competitive practices” had driven up ticket prices and made it harder for fans to see their favorite acts.

New York Attorney General Letitia James called the verdict “a landmark victory.”

After the victory, Kessler would not say specifically what the states will seek in the next phase of the litigation, which was expected to involve another lengthy legal proceeding before penalties are decided.

But he celebrated the moment.

“It’s a great day for consumers," he said.

FILE - The Ticketmaster logo is seen along the sideline of the field before an NFL football game, Sept. 15, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)