Brazilian Seamer Cardoso Rewrites Cricket History with Nine-Wicket Haul

In a moment that will forever be etched in cricket history, Brazil's Laura Cardoso has achieved what no player before her could accomplish - taking nine wickets in a single T20 international match.

The 21-year-old seamer's extraordinary figures of 9-4 came during Brazil's dominant victory over Lesotho in the Kalahari Women's T20 tournament, held in Gaborone, Botswana. Chasing a mammoth 203, Lesotho crumbled to just 13 all out in a mere 6.2 overs, with Cardoso single-handedly dismantling their batting order.

Cardoso's remarkable spell began with devastating effect as she claimed five consecutive wickets spanning the final three deliveries of the second over and the first two balls of the fourth over. This lethal burst left Lesotho reeling at 8-5, setting the stage for one of cricket's most memorable individual performances.

The Brazilian star continued her onslaught, adding two more victims in the same over to complete her second maiden, before removing another pair in the fifth over. She was tantalizingly close to achieving the unthinkable - all ten wickets - but was denied when teammate Marianne Artur stumped Lindiwe Polaki to end the match.

Cardoso's achievement surpasses the previous T20 international record held by Bhutan's Sonam Yeshey, who took eight wickets for seven runs against Myanmar in 2025. In women's cricket specifically, she eclipsed Indonesia's Rohmalia Rohmalia's figures of 7-0 against Mongolia in 2024.

Cricket Brasil president Roberta Moretti, who witnessed every dismissal from her position at first slip, couldn't contain her excitement about her teammate's potential. "I don't think this is the end. She's still only 21 and I believe Laura is someone who can one day play at the elite level in England and Australia," Moretti told BBC Sport.

"For me it's a joy to see an athlete like Laura becoming the cricketer she is, with her work ethic and passion for the game. She came from one of our grassroots programmes and through all of the pathways and is one of the greatest cricketers Brazil has produced."

The performance showcases the growing strength of cricket in non-traditional nations. Brazil's unbeaten run in the six-team tournament demonstrates how the sport is expanding its global footprint, with players like Cardoso emerging from grassroots programs to create history on the international stage.

For Cardoso, this record-breaking performance represents just the beginning of what could be a stellar international career. At such a young age, with her work ethic and natural talent, she has announced herself as a force to be reckoned with in women's cricket worldwide.