World record! Brazil’s Laura Cardoso scripts T20I history, becomes first-ever cricketer to...

NEW DELHI: Brazil’s Laura Cardoso, aged 21, made history with an extraordinary bowling performance, becoming the first player in men’s or women’s T20I cricket to take nine wickets in a single innings.

Playing against Lesotho, she produced a stunning spell of 9/4 in just three overs, completely dismantling the opposition and setting a new world record in the format.

A historic bowling performance

Cardoso’s achievement broke long-standing records in T20I cricket. She went past Sonam Yeshey, who had taken eight wickets in a men’s T20I, and also bettered Rohmalia Rohmalia’s seven-wicket haul in women’s T20Is.

Her spell began dramatically when she picked up a hat-trick early in the innings, immediately putting Lesotho under pressure.

She then struck again in her next over, grabbing four more wickets to take her tally to seven.

Maintaining her rhythm and control, Cardoso added two more wickets in her final over, reaching an incredible nine wickets, an achievement never seen before in T20I cricket.

Brazil’s all-round dominance

Before Cardoso’s heroics, Brazil had already set the tone with the bat, posting a strong total of 202 runs. Key contributions came from Roberta Avery, who scored 48, and Monnike Machado, who remained unbeaten on 69.

Their efforts ensured Brazil had a commanding position going into the second innings.

However, it was Cardoso’s bowling that completely sealed the match. Lesotho’s batting lineup had no answer to her pace and accuracy, collapsing for just 13 runs in 6.2 overs. The final wicket was taken by Marianne Artur, confirming a massive 189-run victory.

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Cardoso’s once-in-a-lifetime spell not only secured a dominant win for Brazil but also etched her name permanently in cricket history.