Brazil’s Laura Cardoso has achieved a historic milestone by establishing herself as the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20 international match. The 21-year-old fast bowler recorded 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 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 previous T20 international record of eight wickets, held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, and sets a new benchmark for women’s cricket in the format.
A historic performance in Gaborone
Cardoso’s striking spell emerged with breathtaking precision during Brazil’s match at the Kalahari Women’s T20 tournament. The emerging fast bowler launched her exceptional sequence of dismissals by securing five consecutive wickets, spanning the final three deliveries of the second over and the first two deliveries of the fourth. This remarkable spell left Lesotho in disarray at 8-5, confronted with an insurmountable deficit. She went on to claim two further wickets in the same over, recording a further maiden over, before removing another pair of batters in the final over to cement her place in the record books.
Cardoso was eventually denied a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur executed the stumping of Lindiwe Polaki, one of only three Lesotho batters to score a run in the match. Despite failing to achieve the additional wicket, Cardoso’s nine-wicket haul remains an unprecedented achievement in T20 international competition. Her display 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 elite level.
- Five successive wickets spanning second and fourth overs
- Two further dismissals during the same over recorded
- Another pair of batsmen dismissed 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 marks a watershed moment 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 achievement demonstrates the impressive ascent of a player who, at merely 21 years old, has already shown the technical skill and psychological strength required to perform at the highest echelons of the sport. This record-shattering achievement has solidly cemented Cardoso as one of cricket’s most thrilling emerging talents, with her rapid ascent from grassroots initiatives to international recognition serving as an source of inspiration for aspiring cricketers throughout Brazil and globally.
The significance of Cardoso’s accomplishment goes further than mere statistics; it marks a pivotal juncture for Brazilian cricket in the international arena. Her impressive showing in Gaborone has drawn global focus and highlighted the depth of talent coming out of cricket development initiatives across South America. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti has already identified Cardoso as a talent with real promise to excel in top-tier competition in established cricketing nations such as England and Australia. The young seamer’s work ethic, enthusiasm, and dedication to her craft indicate that this milestone may simply mark the beginning of an distinguished trajectory, with additional accomplishments undoubtedly forthcoming.
Earlier record title holders
Before Cardoso’s remarkable 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 the women’s game, Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia had set the benchmark with seven wickets for no runs against Mongolia in 2024. Cardoso’s nine wickets has decisively surpassed both benchmarks, establishing a new standard that will almost certainly be the peak of T20 international bowling performance for the foreseeable future.
Cardoso’s outstanding bowling spell
The framework of Cardoso’s record-breaking performance showcases a bowling display of remarkable precision and consistency. The 21-year-old’s formidable display got underway during the second over, where she claimed five consecutive 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 state of complete disarray at 8-5, with the match essentially settled as a contest prior to the halfway point of the innings. Cardoso’s ability to maintain precision and drive whilst bowling at such a formidable pace displayed the qualities of a genuinely world-class international cricketer.
Cardoso’s dominance remained unrelenting as she claimed two additional dismissals to complete a first over, before taking another pair of batsmen to her tally in the 5th over. Her performance was ultimately robbed of a complete 10-wicket haul when teammate Marianne Artur achieved the last wicket, dismissing Lindiwe Polaki to conclude Lesotho’s collapse for just 13 runs. Despite this minor interruption to her individual tally, Cardoso’s nine-wicket feat stands as an unprecedented achievement in T20 international matches, 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 |
Promise and potential for Brazilian cricket
Cardoso’s landmark performance has catapulted Brazilian cricket into the global stage and justified 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 accomplish, demonstrating a maturity and skill set that contradicts her relative youth. Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who observed every wicket from her position at first slip, believes this is merely the beginning of Cardoso’s career trajectory. “I don’t think this is the end,” Moretti said to BBC Sport, emphasising her belief that the emerging fast bowler has the ability to perform at the top tiers of the sport.
Moretti’s assessment of Cardoso’s career path is particularly compelling given her personal witnessing of the on-field display and her intimate knowledge of the player’s character and professional dedication. The head of Cricket Brasil emphasised Cardoso’s humble origins within the nation’s grassroots pathways indicating her emergence represents a success for the Brazilian cricket system. “She came from one of our grassroots pathways and through all of the developmental stages and is one of the greatest cricketers Brazil has produced,” Moretti noted. Looking forward, Moretti foresees a future where Cardoso plays at international standard in England and Australia, embodying 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 compete at elite level in England and Australia
- Her record demonstrates the quality emerging from Brazilian cricket development