Brazil seamer Laura Cardoso takes record nine wickets against Lesotho
Brazil seamer Laura Cardoso has become the first player in history to take nine wickets in a Twenty20 international during a remarkable victory over Lesotho.
The 21-year-old recorded astonishing figures of nine wickets for just four runs in three overs at the Kalahari Women’s tournament in Gaborone.
Chasing a formidable target of 203, the African nation were completely dismantled and bowled out for a mere 13 runs in 6.2 overs.
Unprecedented international bowling figures
The history-making spell surpasses the previous overall T20 record held by Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey, who claimed eight wickets against Myanmar in a men’s fixture in 2025.
In women’s cricket, the South American bowler eclipsed the benchmark set by Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia, who took seven wickets without conceding a run against Mongolia in 2024.
The fast bowler initiated her devastating run of dismissals by claiming five wickets in five consecutive deliveries across her first two overs.
Denied a perfect ten-wicket haul
She left her opposition reeling at eight for five before picking up another two wickets to complete a second consecutive maiden over.
Two further dismissals followed in her third over as the national side closed in on a comprehensive triumph.
However, the prospect of a perfect ten-wicket haul eluded the Brazilian starlet when teammate Marianne Artur secured the final breakthrough.
Artur had Lindiwe Polaki stumped to conclude the match, sealing a dominant result that keeps the squad unbeaten after five games in Botswana.
