Laura Cardoso Makes History with Record-Breaking T20I Bowling Performance

Laura Cardoso Achieves Historic Bowling Feat

Brazilian fast bowler Laura Cardoso has etched her name in cricket history by becoming the first player, male or female, to take nine wickets in a single T20I innings, as reported by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

New T20I Bowling Record Set by Cardoso

This remarkable achievement occurred during Match No. 14 of the ongoing BCA Kalahari Women's T20I Tournament 2026, held at the Botswana Cricket Association Oval 2 in Gaborone. Cardoso delivered an outstanding performance against Lesotho, concluding her spell with astonishing figures of 9 wickets for just 4 runs across three overs, marking the best bowling figures in T20I cricket history. Previously, the record was held by Sonam Yeshey from Bhutan, who took eight wickets for seven runs in a Men's T20I match in 2025. In the Women's T20I category, Cardoso surpassed the record of 7 wickets for no runs set by Indonesia's Rohmalia against Mongolia in 2024.

Brazil Dominates Lesotho with a 189-Run Victory

In the match itself, Brazil's women's cricket team showcased their prowess by defeating Lesotho by a staggering 189 runs. Brazil set a challenging total of 202 runs, with significant contributions from Roberta Avery, who scored 48 runs off 35 balls, and Monnike Machado, who remained not out at 69 runs from 41 balls, including seven boundaries.

Cardoso's Unforgettable Bowling Spell

Cardoso's bowling performance was nothing short of spectacular. She initiated her spell with a hat-trick in the second over and continued to take four more wickets in the fourth over, bringing her total to seven. She capped off her record-breaking innings by claiming two additional wickets in the sixth over, finishing with nine wickets as Lesotho was bowled out for a mere 13 runs in just 6.2 overs. The final wicket was taken by Marianne Artur. Cardoso's extraordinary achievement, combined with the team's overall performance, solidified Brazil's reputation as a formidable contender in international women's cricket.