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 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, surpasses the earlier T20 international mark of eight wickets, set by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, and establishes a fresh standard for women’s cricket in the format.
A historic event in Gaborone
Cardoso’s striking spell developed with breathtaking precision during Brazil’s match at the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament. The young seamer initiated her extraordinary run of dismissals by taking five wickets in a row, spanning the last three balls of the second over and the first two deliveries of the fourth. This striking run had Lesotho in disarray at 8-5, dealing with an impossible task. She then took two further wickets in the same over, posting a further maiden over, before removing another pair of batters in the closing over to cement her place in sporting folklore.
Cardoso was ultimately denied a perfect 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur orchestrated the stumping of Lindiwe Polaki, just one of three Lesotho batsmen to register a run in the match. Despite failing to achieve the additional wicket, Cardoso’s nine-wicket performance remains an unparalleled 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 elite level.
- Five consecutive wickets across second and fourth overs
- Two further dismissals in the same over recorded
- Another couple of batters dismissed in the fifth over
- Denied tenth wicket when Artur achieved Polaki’s stumping
Achieving record-breaking results in the competition format
Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul marks a watershed moment in T20 international cricket, extending beyond both men’s and women’s competitions. The Brazilian pace bowler’s 9-4 figures have obliterated the earlier record, which had stood for just over a year. Her accomplishment demonstrates the impressive ascent of a player who, at merely 21 years old, has already displayed the technical skill 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 prominence serving as an source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers across Brazil and beyond.
The relevance of Cardoso’s achievement extends beyond basic figures; it constitutes a transformative moment for cricket in Brazil on the global stage. Her impressive showing in Gaborone has drawn global focus and demonstrated the wealth of ability coming out of South American cricket development programmes. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti has already pinpointed Cardoso as a player with genuine potential to compete at elite level in traditional cricket-playing countries such as England and Australia. The young seamer’s commitment to improvement, drive, and dedication to her craft indicate that this record may simply mark the beginning of an remarkable journey, with further achievements surely to follow.
Previous record holders
Before Cardoso’s outstanding performance, the T20 international record was held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, who took eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar in a T20 men’s match in 2025. In women’s cricket, 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 highest point in T20 international bowling performance for years ahead.
Cardoso’s exceptional bowling spell
The framework of Cardoso’s record-breaking performance reveals a bowling performance of exceptional accuracy and consistency. The 21-year-old’s formidable display got underway during the second over, where she captured five straight wickets across the final three deliveries of that over and the opening two balls of the fourth over. This unrelenting performance left Lesotho in a situation of utter chaos at 8-5, with the match virtually concluded 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 genuinely world-class international cricketer.
Cardoso’s dominance remained unrelenting as she secured two additional dismissals to finish a maiden over, before adding another pair 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 effected the last wicket, dismissing Lindiwe Polaki to end Lesotho’s capitulation for only 13 runs. Despite this minor interruption to her personal haul, Cardoso’s nine-wicket feat stands as an unparalleled feat in T20 international matches, a reflection of her outstanding ability and psychological strength 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 cricket in Brazil
Cardoso’s record-breaking performance has catapulted Brazilian cricket into the global stage and justified the funding of grassroots development programmes that developed 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 position at first slip, is convinced this is merely the beginning of Cardoso’s career trajectory. “I don’t think this is the end,” Moretti told BBC Sport, emphasising her conviction that the young seamer has the capability to perform at the top tiers of the sport.
Moretti’s assessment of Cardoso’s trajectory is especially striking given her personal witnessing of the playing ability and her deep understanding of the cricketer’s personality and work ethic. The head of Cricket Brasil highlighted Cardoso’s working-class background within the country’s grassroots programmes suggesting her rise marks a success 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 remarked. Looking forward, Moretti imagines a scenario where Cardoso plays at international standard in England and Australia, representing the ultimate goal for Brazilian women’s cricket.
- Cardoso progressed through Brazil’s foundational cricket initiatives and established development routes
- At 21, she possesses the capability to perform at the highest standard in England and Australia
- Her record showcases the calibre arising out of Brazilian cricket advancement