Brazil’s Laura Cardoso has made history by establishing herself as the first-ever player to take nine wickets in a T20 international match. The 21-year-old seamer achieved the outstanding achievement on 9 April 2026, recording figures of 9-4 against Lesotho in the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament in Gaborone, Botswana. Cardoso’s exceptional display came as Lesotho collapsed for just 13 runs in 6.2 overs whilst chasing Brazil’s total of 203. The historic tally, accomplished in just three overs, surpasses the earlier T20 international mark of eight wickets, set by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, and establishes a new benchmark for women’s cricket in the format.
A memorable event in Gaborone
Cardoso’s devastating spell emerged with breathtaking precision during Brazil’s match at the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament. The young seamer initiated her outstanding spell of dismissals by claiming five straight dismissals, extending across the closing three bowls of the second over and the first two deliveries of the fourth. This striking run had Lesotho in disarray at 8-5, already facing an impossible task. She went on to claim two additional dismissals in the same over, achieving a second maiden, before removing another pair of batters in the final over to cement her place in sporting folklore.
Cardoso was ultimately denied a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur executed the stumping of Lindiwe Polaki, just one of three Lesotho batsmen to register a run in the match. Despite failing to achieve the extra wicket, Cardoso’s nine-wicket performance stands as an unprecedented achievement in T20 international cricket. Her performance has attracted considerable attention, with Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who witnessed every dismissal from her position at first slip, voicing confidence in the young player’s prospects at the highest level.
- Five consecutive wickets spanning second and fourth overs
- Two further dismissals during the same over recorded
- Another couple of batsmen removed in the fifth over
- Denied tenth wicket when Artur secured Polaki’s stumping
Setting new benchmarks throughout the competition
Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul marks a pivotal juncture in international T20 cricket, surpassing both men’s and women’s competitions. The Brazilian pace bowler’s 9-4 figures have obliterated the earlier record, which had remained just over a year. Her performance highlights the impressive ascent of a player who, at merely 21 years old, has already shown the technical prowess and psychological strength needed to excel at the highest echelons of the sport. This record-breaking performance has solidly cemented Cardoso as one of cricket’s most thrilling emerging talents, with her meteoric rise from grassroots initiatives to international recognition acting as an source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers throughout Brazil and globally.
The importance of Cardoso’s performance surpasses mere statistics; it constitutes a watershed moment for Brazilian cricket on the global stage. Her dominant display in Gaborone has captured international attention and demonstrated the breadth of skill coming out of cricket development initiatives across South America. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti has already pinpointed Cardoso as a player with genuine potential to excel in top-tier competition in well-established cricket powers such as England and Australia. The promising bowler’s commitment to improvement, enthusiasm, and dedication to her craft suggest that this achievement may simply mark the beginning of an remarkable journey, with additional accomplishments undoubtedly forthcoming.
Previous record holders
Before Cardoso’s outstanding performance, the T20 international record belonged to Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, who captured eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar in a T20 men’s match in 2025. In the women’s game, Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia had held the distinction with seven wickets for no runs against Mongolia in 2024. Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul has substantially beaten both benchmarks, establishing a new standard that will likely stand as the pinnacle of T20 international bowling performance for years to come.
Cardoso’s impressive bowling performance
The framework of Cardoso’s record-breaking performance reveals a bowling display of exceptional accuracy and consistency. The 21-year-old’s devastating spell got underway during the second over, where she claimed five straight wickets throughout the last three balls of that over and the first two deliveries of the fourth over. This sustained burst left Lesotho in a situation of utter chaos at 8-5, with the match essentially settled as a contest before the midway stage of the innings. Cardoso’s capacity for maintaining precision and drive whilst bowling at such a destructive pace displayed the qualities of a truly elite international cricketer.
Cardoso’s supremacy continued unabated as she claimed two additional dismissals to finish a maiden over, before taking another pair of batsmen to her tally in the fifth over. Her performance was ultimately robbed of a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur achieved the final dismissal, dismissing Lindiwe Polaki to conclude Lesotho’s capitulation for just 13 runs. Despite this minor interruption to her individual tally, Cardoso’s nine-wicket achievement stands as an unparalleled feat in T20 international matches, a testament to her outstanding ability and psychological strength in pressure situations.
| Over | Key moments |
|---|---|
| Second over | Takes final three wickets, beginning her five-wicket streak across consecutive deliveries |
| Fourth over | Completes five consecutive wickets with first two deliveries; Lesotho reduced to 8-5 |
| Fourth over (conclusion) | Takes two further wickets to record a maiden over |
| Fifth over | Removes another pair of batsmen, extending her haul to nine wickets |
Promise and potential for cricket in Brazil
Cardoso’s landmark display has catapulted Brazilian cricket into the global stage and justified the investment in grassroots development programmes that produced this exceptional talent. At just 21 years old, she has already accomplished what many experienced cricketers never attain, showcasing a maturity and skill set that belies her comparative inexperience. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who witnessed every dismissal from her vantage point at first slip, is convinced this is merely the beginning of Cardoso’s journey. “I don’t think this is the end,” Moretti told BBC Sport, emphasising her conviction that the young seamer has the capability to compete at the top tiers of the sport.
Moretti’s evaluation of Cardoso’s career path is particularly compelling given her personal witnessing of the playing ability and her thorough grasp of the player’s character and commitment to excellence. The Cricket Brasil president underscored Cardoso’s humble origins within the grassroots cricket development implying her emergence marks a achievement for the country’s cricket infrastructure. “She came from one of our grassroots pathways and through all of the pathways and is one of the greatest cricketers Brazil has produced,” Moretti stated. Looking ahead, Moretti imagines a future where Cardoso competes at elite level in Australia and England, symbolising the ultimate goal for women’s cricket in Brazil.
- Cardoso advanced through Brazil’s grassroots cricket programmes and structured pathways
- At 21, she possesses the capability to perform at the highest standard in England and Australia
- Her record demonstrates the quality arising out of Brazilian cricket advancement