Brazil’s Laura Cardoso shatters World Record with 9-wicket haul
By Nawaz Gohar ; In a display of bowling brilliance that bordered on perfection, Brazil’s Laura Cardoso has rewritten the history books of International Cricket. During the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20 International Tournament, Cardoso delivered a performance so dominant it may remain unsurpassed for decades.
Cardoso became the first cricketer—male or female—to claim nine wickets in a single T20 International innings. Finishing with the staggering figures of 9 wickets for just 4 runs in 3 overs, she effectively dismantled the Lesotho batting lineup single-handedly.
Prior to this feat, the world record was held by Bhutanese cricketer Sonam Yeshey, who took 8 wickets for 7 runs in 2025. In the women’s game, the previous record belonged to Indonesia’s Rohmalia, who claimed 7 wickets for 0 runs in 2024. Cardoso has now eclipsed them both, moving a significant step closer to the elusive “perfect ten.”
The Brazilian pacer’s spell was marked by clinical precision and lightning speed. Her record-breaking spree included:
The 5-in-5 Club: She became the first player in international history to take five wickets in five consecutive deliveries.
The Opening Salvo: She secured a hat-trick in her very first over.
Rapid Destruction: By the end of her second over (just 12 balls into her spell), she had already claimed 7 wickets.
Brazil set a massive total of 202 runs while batting first. In response, Lesotho was bundled out for a meager 13 runs in just 6.2 overs, with Cardoso accounting for nine of the ten wickets to fall (the final wicket was taken by Marianne Arthur).
Brazil’s victory by 189 runs stands as one of the largest winning margins by runs in T20 International history, fueled by an economy rate that saw Cardoso concede less than half a run for every wicket taken.
While many bowlers dream of “clearing the deck,” Cardoso’s achievement has turned a sporting fantasy into reality. With 9 wickets in an innings and a sequence of five wickets in five balls, she has set a benchmark for “perfection” that will likely challenge bowlers for generations to come.
