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)

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The president of the International Paralympic Committee was disappointed with the complaints made by Ukraine's National Paralympic Committee during the Milan Cortina Games, saying they appeared to be an attempt to shift the focus from sports to politics.

Andrew Parsons spoke with The Associated Press on the final day of the Winter Paralympic Games on Sunday, praising the outcome of the competition and discussing the return of the Russian flag and anthem, the effects of the warmer weather and the challenges of organizing the event at widespread venues.

Parsons called it “disappointing” that the Ukrainian National Paralympic Committee and the national committees of other nations tried to turn the focus away from sports.

He said he was “super empathetic” with the situation in Ukraine and can “only try to imagine the horror,” but as a sports organization, the IPC must make sure that rules are not broken, even by the Ukrainian committee.

“Yes, I think there was an attempt to always take the focus from sport,” Parsons said. “And I think at the end, even the other national Paralympic committees responded really well, focusing on sports. I understand, but it is disappointing to some extent.”

He said it was expected to see governments attempting to shift the focus toward politics, but it was regrettable that sports bodies were doing it.

“I do hope this is a lesson learned also for those NPCs that have chosen to focus more on the political side than on the sport side, because sport has prevailed,” he said.

Ukraine and a few other nations boycotted the opening ceremony — and were set to boycott Sunday's closing ceremony as well — because of the IPC's decision to give Russian athletes wildcard entries for the Games and allow them to compete under their own flag for the first time in more than a decade.

Ukraine’s Paralympic committee accused the IPC and Milan Cortina organizers of subjecting Ukraine’s athletes and coaches to “systematic pressure.” It said the incidents included the alleged forceful removal of a Ukrainian flag, the breaking up of planning meetings by the Ukrainian team, and the prohibition of a Ukrainian athlete from wearing an earring with the words “Stop War” at a podium ceremony. The IPC and local organizers defended their actions.

Parsons said it was expected that some nations weren't happy with the return of the Russian flag, but he felt that the “vast majority” of the national Paralympic committees focused on sport, “because the sport element of it is what helps us fulfill our mission, which is to make for a more inclusive world through Para sport, and not external politics.”

“There was still some voices out there trying to continue focusing on what, in our opinion, should not be the focus of these games, but I think the overall impression of the people, especially people at home watching on TV or following the media, following the news, is (the focus) was more on athletes, more on sport, records, than in politics,” he said.

The Russian flag flew at the Paralympics for the first time since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, and the anthem was played for the first time at a major global sporting event since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The return of the Russian flag and anthem was seen by some as a signal of a possible full-fledged return to Olympic circles ahead of the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Parson said the general assembly made the vote to lift the suspension solely with the best interests of the Paralympic movement in mind.

“We don’t think that we are going to initiate processes,” he said. “I know some people believe that this might have the impact on another sporting body, but that’s not what we’re focusing on. It’s for the IOC to make their decisions, it’s for FIFA to make their decisions, and every other international organization to make their decisions."

Parsons said discussions will continue about the effect of warmer weather on the Paralympics. Milan Cortina organizers had to change the schedule of some events because of high temperatures, and some athletes competed in shorts, T-shirts and tank tops.

“Unfortunately, global leaders are not responding in the speed that is necessary to slow down the process," he said. "So this is probably a trend that we will see in 2030, ‘34, ’38 '42 and so on. So we need to have those discussions, and we are having those discussions” within the IPC and together with the IOC and international federations.

“It’s a very big jigsaw puzzle,” Parsons said. “It’s not only, ‘OK, let’s move the Games one month in advance — Olympics in January, Paralympics in February.' That is also an impact on the regular season of those sports. So we need to consider all these different elements. These discussions are taking place. We are not sitting on our hands.”

Parsons said the model of spread-out Games — with competitions and venues in different clusters to reduce the cost of building new facilities — is “here to stay.”

“I think the biggest learning is that it is possible to have great Games, even with that widespread venue master plan. It does not compromise the spirit of the Games, but, yes, brings additional complexity to the operations that needs to be mitigated, and needs to be well understood, and I think having this first experience here, we have a lot of learning to take to 2030, 2034.”

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

Andrew Parsons, President of the International Paralympic Committee, speaks during the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Verona, Italy, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)