Gaborone witnessed cricketing magic on April 9 as Brazil skipper Laura Cardoso delivered the most extraordinary bowling performance in T20 International history. In the BCA Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026, she dismantled Lesotho with figures of 9/4 in three overs, becoming the first bowler ever to take nine wickets in a T20I innings across genders.
The carnage began immediately: a hat-trick in over one, four wickets in the second, and two more in the third. Lesotho’s innings ended at 13 all out in 6.2 overs, with only Mariene Arthur joining the wicket column for Brazil. This resulted in a thumping 189-run triumph after Brazil amassed 202, thanks to Monnik Machado’s 69 (41 balls) and Roberta Avery’s 48 (35).
Brazil’s form has been electric throughout the tournament. Just prior, they crushed Zambia by 174 runs, batting first to 200/5 on the back of Cardoso’s fifty and a 105-run partnership with Laura Agatha. Zambia managed just 26 in reply. Cardoso’s spell eclipses Sonam Yeshe’s men’s record of 8/7 and Rohmalia Rohmalia’s women’s 7/0, rewriting the record books.
This achievement highlights the growth of women’s cricket in emerging nations like Brazil, where Cardoso’s leadership and lethal bowling are propelling the team to new heights. Fans worldwide are buzzing about this once-in-a-lifetime performance that redefines T20I excellence.
