In the football-obsessed heart of Brazil, a 21-year-old has just etched her name into cricket’s history books. way No one man or woman has ever done it before. On 9 April 2026, Laura Cardoso Vilas Boas delivered a spell of 9 wickets for just 4 runs in three overs against Lesotho during the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament in Botswana. It wasn’t just a match winning performance; it was a world record. Cardoso became the first player in the history of T20I cricket to claim nine wickets in a single innings. Brazil dismantled Lesotho for 13 in 6.2 overs and powered Brazil to a staggering 189-run victory.
The innings unfolded like a dream: a hat-trick in her second over, four more wickets in the fourth, and two in the sixth. She claimed the first nine wickets of the innings including five in five balls before teammate Marianne Artur took the tenth. Brazil had posted 202, led by Roberta Avery’s 48 and Monnike Machado’s unbeaten 69. But it was Cardoso’s relentless medium fast pace that stole the show.
A Journey Born in a Community Project
Laura Cardoso’s story is as remarkable as her figures. Born on 28 March 2005, she grew up playing volleyball before discovering cricket at age 11 through Criança Feliz (“Happy Child”), a community programme in Brazil. By 12, her talent was unmistakable. In January 2020, aged just 14, she became one of the first 14 female players to receive a central contract from Cricket Brasil – a landmark moment for a nation where cricket had long played second fiddle to football.
She idolizes Australia’s Ellyse Perry and quickly established herself as Brazil’s premier all-rounder: a right-arm medium-fast bowler and handy right-handed batter. In 2022, she and captain Roberta Moretti Avery were invited to the FairBreak Invitational T20 in Dubai, representing the Barmy Army franchise – another sign that Brazilian talent was catching the world’s eye.
A Prodigy from Day One
Cardoso made her T20I debut in October 2021 at just 16 during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier in Mexico. In the final against Canada, with the opposition needing three runs off the last over and sitting on 46/5, she produced a moment of magic: a dot ball, a run-out, and then a hat-trick on the next three deliveries. She became the first Brazilian male or female to take a T20I hat-trick, picked up Player of the Match, and finished the tournament with 11 wickets, the most by any bowler.
Fast-forward to today: 48 T20Is, 656 runs at an average of 20.50 (highest score 71*), 55 wickets at 9.76, and now the greatest bowling figures in T20I history. She is also vice-captain of the national side and a seven-time South American champion.
Why This Matters for Women’s Cricket
Cardoso’s record isn’t just about numbers – it’s a powerful statement about the explosion of women’s cricket in associate nations. Brazil, long an emerging force in the Americas, is now producing world-beating performances on the global stage. Her 9/4 shattered previous benchmarks: Bhutan’s Sonam Yeshey’s 8/7 (men’s) and Indonesia’s Rohmalia Rohmalia’s 7/0 (women’s).
As Sri Lanka’s own women’s team continues to inspire millions across the island with their fearless brand of cricket, stories like Laura Cardoso’s remind us that the women’s game is no longer confined to the traditional powerhouses. From community fields in São Paulo to the international arena in Botswana, talent is emerging wherever the game is nurtured. Cardoso’s emotional reaction after the nine-wicket haul – captured in viral footage – spoke volumes: pure joy, disbelief, and pride for a nation that has embraced cricket with open arms.
At 21, she is already a role model for the next generation of Brazilian girls picking up a bat and ball. Her success proves that with the right pathways central contracts, international exposure, and community programmes – women’s cricket can flourish anywhere.
The Future Looks Bright
Laura Cardoso isn’t done yet. As Brazil eyes bigger stages and the women’s game continues its global surge, she stands as living proof that passion and perseverance can rewrite records. For cricket fans in Sri Lanka and beyond, her journey is a thrilling chapter in the story of a sport that grows more inclusive and exciting every day.
Watch this space. The girl who swapped volleyball for cricket is only just getting started – and the world is taking notice.
Lankasara.com – Sports Desk
