Brazilian pacer Laura Cardoso etched her name in cricketing history by becoming the first player ever to claim nine wickets in a T20 International. The remarkable feat came during a women’s T20I between Brazil and Lesotho at Gaborone (Oval 2) on April 9, 2026.
The 21-year-old right-arm medium pacer delivered a sensational spell, finishing with astonishing figures of 9/4 in just three overs. Her extraordinary performance dismantled Lesotho’s batting lineup, bundling them out for a mere 13 runs in response to Brazil’s imposing total of 202/8.
According to the ICC, the previous record for the best bowling figures in a T20I was held by Sonam Yeshey of Bhutan, who claimed 8/7 against Myanmar in a men’s T20I in Gelephu on December 26, 2025. Cardoso’s effort not only surpassed that benchmark but also set a new global standard across both men’s and women’s formats.
Among Full Member nations, the best figures in women’s T20Is belong to Amy Satterthwaite, who registered 6/17 against England in Taunton on August 16, 2007. In men’s T20Is involving Full Member teams, India’s Deepak Chahar holds the record with a stunning 6/7 against Bangladesh in Nagpur on November 10, 2019.
Cardoso’s historic spell marks a landmark moment for Brazil and highlights the rapid growth of associate nations in international cricket. Her record-breaking performance is set to inspire a new generation of cricketers and will be remembered as one of the greatest bowling displays in T20I history.
