Brazil’s Laura Cardoso has achieved a historic milestone by establishing herself as the first-ever player to claim nine wickets in a T20 international match. The 21-year-old seamer achieved 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 extraordinary performance came as Lesotho collapsed for just 13 runs in 6.2 overs whilst pursuing Brazil’s total of 203. The record-breaking haul, achieved in just three overs, exceeds the previous T20 international record of eight wickets, held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, and establishes a fresh standard for women’s cricket in the format.
A landmark showing in Gaborone
Cardoso’s devastating spell emerged with stunning control during Brazil’s match at the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament. The promising pace bowler began her extraordinary run of dismissals by claiming five straight dismissals, spanning the final three deliveries of the second over and the initial pair of bowls of the fourth. This devastating sequence left Lesotho reeling at 8-5, already facing an impossible task. She subsequently claimed two additional dismissals in the same over, posting a second maiden, before taking two more of batters in the fifth over to secure her place in cricket history.
Cardoso was eventually denied a perfect 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur orchestrated the stumping of Lindiwe Polaki, just one of three Lesotho batsmen to score a run in the match. Despite failing to achieve the extra wicket, Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul stands as an unprecedented achievement in T20 international cricket. Her display has garnered widespread recognition, with Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who observed each dismissal from her position at first slip, voicing confidence in the young player’s prospects at the highest level.
- Five successive wickets across second and fourth overs
- Two additional dismissals in the same over recorded
- Another couple of batters dismissed in the fifth over
- Denied tenth wicket when Artur achieved Polaki’s stumping
Setting new benchmarks throughout the competition
Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul represents a pivotal juncture in international T20 cricket, transcending both men’s and women’s competitions. The Brazilian seamer’s 9-4 figures have shattered the earlier record, which had remained just over a year. Her performance highlights the impressive ascent of a player who, at just 21 years of age, has already displayed the technical prowess and mental fortitude required to perform at the uppermost levels of the sport. This record-shattering achievement has solidly cemented Cardoso as one of cricket’s most exciting rising stars, with her meteoric rise from grassroots programmes to international prominence acting as an inspiration to aspiring cricketers throughout Brazil and globally.
The relevance of Cardoso’s accomplishment surpasses simple numbers; it marks a transformative moment for Brazilian cricket on the global stage. Her dominant display in Gaborone has drawn global focus and highlighted the depth of talent emerging from South American cricket development programmes. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti has already recognised Cardoso as a player with genuine potential to compete at elite level in well-established cricket powers such as England and Australia. The young seamer’s commitment to improvement, enthusiasm, and devotion to cricket indicate that this record may simply mark the opening chapter of an distinguished trajectory, with additional accomplishments surely to follow.
Former record title holders
Before Cardoso’s exceptional performance, the T20 international record belonged to 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 set the benchmark with seven wickets for no runs against Mongolia in 2024. Cardoso’s nine-wicket performance has decisively surpassed both benchmarks, setting a new benchmark that will likely stand as the pinnacle of T20 international bowling performance for the foreseeable future.
Cardoso’s outstanding bowling performance
The framework of Cardoso’s record-breaking performance showcases a bowling performance of extraordinary consistency and consistency. The 21-year-old’s formidable display got underway during the 2nd over, where she captured five straight wickets across the final three deliveries 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 virtually concluded as a contest prior to the midway stage of the innings. Cardoso’s ability to maintain accuracy and intensity whilst bowling at such a devastating speed displayed the qualities of a genuinely world-class international performer.
Cardoso’s supremacy continued unabated as she secured two additional dismissals to complete a maiden over, before taking two more of batsmen to her tally in the fifth over. Her display was eventually denied the gloss of a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur effected the last wicket, stumping Lindiwe Polaki to end Lesotho’s collapse for just 13 runs. Despite this minor interruption to her individual tally, Cardoso’s nine-wicket feat stands as an unparalleled feat in T20 international cricket, a testament to her exceptional skill and mental resilience under pressure.
| 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 |
Opportunities and prospects for Brazilian cricket
Cardoso’s record-breaking display has thrust Brazilian cricket into the international spotlight and justified the funding of grassroots development programmes that produced this exceptional talent. At just 21 years old, she has already achieved what many experienced cricketers never accomplish, demonstrating a level of maturity and ability that belies her comparative inexperience. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who observed every wicket from her vantage point at first slip, is convinced this is merely the start of Cardoso’s journey. “I don’t think this is the end,” Moretti told BBC Sport, stressing her belief that the emerging fast bowler has the capability to perform at the highest levels of the sport.
Moretti’s appraisal of Cardoso’s trajectory is notably impressive given her firsthand observation of the playing ability and her intimate knowledge of the athlete’s temperament and commitment to excellence. The head of Cricket Brasil underscored Cardoso’s modest beginnings within the nation’s grassroots pathways indicating her rise marks a success for the Brazilian cricket system. “She came from one of our development programmes and through all of the pathways and is one of the finest players Brazil has produced,” Moretti remarked. Looking ahead, Moretti imagines a future where Cardoso plays at international standard in England and Australia, embodying the ultimate goal for Brazil’s female cricketers.
- Cardoso progressed 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 track record showcases the quality emerging from Brazilian cricket advancement