Laura Cardoso Makes T20I History with 9-Wicket Haul
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Gaborone, April 9 (NationPress) In an extraordinary display of bowling, Brazil's Laura Cardoso made history during the BCA Kalahari Women's T20I Tournament 2026, achieving the best-ever bowling figures in T20I cricket. The Brazilian captain delivered a stunning performance with figures of 9/4 in just three overs against Lesotho, marking her as the first player in both men's and women's T20Is to claim nine wickets in a single innings.
The previous men's record was held by Sonam Yeshey, who took 8/7 against Myanmar in 2025, while the women's record was set by Rohmalia Rohmalia with 7/0 against Mongolia in 2024. Cardoso's achievement has now rewritten the history books, showcasing one of the most dominant spells in T20I history.
The remarkable performance began with a hat-trick in her second over, establishing Brazil's early dominance. She followed up with four more wickets in her next over, reaching seven wickets, and concluded her spell with two additional wickets in her third over to finalize an unprecedented nine-wicket haul. Lesotho's innings collapsed for a mere 13 runs in 6.2 overs, with Marianne Artur taking the only wicket not claimed by Cardoso, resulting in a staggering 189-run victory for Brazil.
Prior to this match, Brazil had set a formidable target of 202 runs, bolstered by significant contributions from Roberta Avery, who scored 48 off 35 balls, and Monnike Machado, who remained not out at 69 from 41 deliveries.
Brazil has consistently demonstrated their prowess throughout the tournament. In an earlier match, they triumphed over Zambia Women by 174 runs in a commanding all-around performance. Cardoso excelled with a brisk half-century, while Laura Agatha contributed 62, forming a vital 105-run partnership that propelled the team to a total of 200/5.
Zambia struggled in their response, eventually being dismissed for just 26 runs in 15.1 overs. Maria Ribeiro shone with a five-wicket haul, while Cardoso added three wickets to dismantle Zambia's batting order.
With their exceptional performances in both batting and bowling, Brazil has established themselves as a dominant force in this tournament.