Brazil’s Laura Cardoso has achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20 international match. The 21-year-old fast bowler recorded the remarkable feat on 9 April 2026, recording figures of 9-4 versus Lesotho in the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament in Gaborone, Botswana. Cardoso’s exceptional display came as Lesotho were bowled out for just 13 runs in 6.2 overs whilst pursuing Brazil’s total of 203. The record-breaking haul, accomplished in just three overs, surpasses the earlier T20 international mark of eight wickets, set by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, and sets a new benchmark for women’s cricket in the format.
A memorable showing in Gaborone
Cardoso’s remarkable spell unfolded with stunning control during Brazil’s match at the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament. The young seamer began her outstanding spell of dismissals by taking five wickets in a row, covering the last three balls of the second over and the opening two balls of the fourth. This remarkable spell left Lesotho in disarray at 8-5, confronted with an impossible task. She subsequently claimed two further wickets in the same over, achieving a second maiden, before removing two more 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, one of only three Lesotho batsmen to score a run in the match. Despite failing to achieve the additional wicket, Cardoso’s nine-wicket performance remains an unprecedented achievement in T20 international cricket. Her performance has garnered widespread recognition, with Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who witnessed every dismissal from her position at first slip, expressing confidence in the young player’s future potential at the highest level.
- Five consecutive wickets across second and fourth overs
- Two additional dismissals in the same over recorded
- Another pair of batsmen removed in the fifth over
- Denied tenth wicket when Artur secured Polaki’s stumping
Setting new benchmarks in the competition format
Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul represents a watershed moment in T20 international cricket, extending beyond both men’s and women’s competitions. The Brazilian pace bowler’s figures of 9-4 have shattered the earlier record, which had remained just over a year. Her performance highlights the remarkable trajectory of a player who, at merely 21 years old, has already demonstrated the technical prowess and mental fortitude needed to excel at the highest echelons of the sport. This record-shattering achievement has solidly cemented Cardoso as one of cricket’s most exciting emerging talents, with her rapid ascent from grassroots initiatives to international recognition serving as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers across Brazil and beyond.
The relevance of Cardoso’s achievement goes further than basic figures; it constitutes a watershed moment for Brazilian cricket on the global stage. Her dominant display in Gaborone has captured international attention and highlighted the wealth of ability coming out of South American cricket training programmes. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti has already identified Cardoso as a player with genuine potential to excel in top-tier competition in established cricketing nations such as England and Australia. The promising bowler’s commitment to improvement, passion, and commitment to the sport suggest that this record may simply mark the start of an distinguished trajectory, with additional accomplishments undoubtedly forthcoming.
Former record holders
Before Cardoso’s exceptional performance, the T20 international record was held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, who took eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar in a men’s T20 international in 2025. In women’s cricket specifically, 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, setting a new benchmark that will probably remain the peak of T20 international bowling performance for the foreseeable future.
Cardoso’s impressive bowling performance
The framework of Cardoso’s historic performance showcases a bowling display of extraordinary consistency and consistency. The 21-year-old’s devastating spell began in earnest during the 2nd over, where she claimed five straight wickets across the last three balls of that over and the opening two balls of the fourth over. This relentless streak left Lesotho in a state of complete disarray at 8-5, with the match essentially settled as a competition prior to the midway stage of the innings. Cardoso’s capacity for maintaining accuracy and intensity whilst operating at such a destructive pace demonstrated the hallmarks of a authentically top-tier international performer.
Cardoso’s supremacy remained unrelenting as she claimed two additional dismissals to complete a maiden over, before taking two more of batsmen to her tally in the fifth over. Her display was ultimately denied the gloss of a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur achieved the last wicket, stumping Lindiwe Polaki to end Lesotho’s collapse for just 13 runs. Despite this minor interruption to her personal haul, Cardoso’s nine-wicket achievement stands as an unparalleled feat in T20 international matches, a testament to her exceptional skill 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 record-breaking display has thrust Brazilian cricket into the international spotlight and vindicated the investment in grassroots development programmes that developed this exceptional talent. At just 21 years old, she has already achieved what many experienced cricketers never attain, showcasing a level of maturity and ability that contradicts her comparative inexperience. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who witnessed every dismissal from her position at first slip, is convinced this is merely the start of Cardoso’s journey. “I don’t think this is the end,” Moretti said to BBC Sport, stressing her belief that the emerging fast bowler possesses the capability to compete at the top tiers of the sport.
Moretti’s evaluation of Cardoso’s trajectory is particularly compelling given her direct experience of the performance and her intimate knowledge of the player’s character and professional dedication. The head of Cricket Brasil highlighted Cardoso’s modest beginnings within the nation’s grassroots pathways indicating her emergence marks a achievement for the nation’s cricket development. “She came from one of our grassroots programmes and through all of the developmental stages and is one of the finest players Brazil has produced,” Moretti stated. Considering the future, Moretti foresees a scenario where Cardoso plays at international standard in England and Australia, symbolising the pinnacle of ambition for women’s cricket in Brazil.
- Cardoso progressed through Brazil’s grassroots cricket programmes and structured pathways
- At 21, she has the potential to perform at the highest standard in England and Australia
- Her record showcases the quality emerging from Brazilian cricket advancement