On October 25 during a T20I between Brazil and Canada which was played as a part of the 2021 ICC Women’s World T20 Americas Region Qualifier, history was created, as five wickets fell in five consecutive balls. For the first time ever in T20I cricket, across men’s and women’s format, has it happened that a team has lost five wickets in five balls.
Chasing 49 in 17 overs, Canada scored 46 runs in 16 overs. With three runs to get and five wickets in hand, it was Canada’s game for sure. However, Canada made a mess of that final over of the match as they lost five wickets in five balls and lost the match by just one run.
. W W W W W
I freaking LOVE this team! 🇧🇷🏏💪🏼@brasil_cricket
Remember this name: Laura Cardoso!
See you soon, next World Cup Qualifiers! pic.twitter.com/na6hglopDE
— Roberta Moretti Avery (@MorettiAvery) October 26, 2021
The right arm quick Laura Cardoso was asked to bowl the 17th over. It was her third over of the match having conceded just seven runs in two overs that she had bowled earlier. Defending just three runs was going to be a daunting task for the 16-year old. However she absorbed the pressure, held her nerves and delivered for her team, when it was required the most.
Five wickets in five balls
| Over | Wicket | Mode of dismissal | Bowler |
| 16.2 | Krima Kapadia | Run Out |
Laura Cardoso |
| 16.3 | Hala Azmat | Bowled | |
| 16.4 | Hiba Shamshad | Bowled | |
| 16.5 | Sana Zafar | Catch out | |
| 16.6 | Mukhwinder Gill | Run Out |
Cardoso wrecked havoc with the ball in that over as she scalped a hat-trick, picking up the wickets of Hala Azmat, Hiba Shamshad and Sana Zafar at 16.3, 16.4 and 16.5 overs respectively. She sent all the three batters back to the dug out for a golden duck. While Azmat and Shamshad were clean bowled, afar was caught by Brazil’s captain Roberta Avery. At the two ends of the hat-trick were the run outs of Krima Kapadia at 16.2 overs and Mukhwinder Gill at 16.6 overs.
Brazil becomes the first team to take 5 wickets in 5 balls in international cricket.
(men/women, where ESPNcricinfo data available) https://t.co/9yzQamqhMc
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) October 25, 2021
It is often said in T20 cricket that every ball is an event. A true testimony to that was this 17th over bowled by Laura Cardoso, who helped Brazil snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Canada. Nothing is impossible in T20s and the Brazilian girls have shown this to the world.
I am a former cricketer having represented Mumbai University at All India University level. I was a part of MCA probables for the U-19 and U-23 age group. I have been an avid cricket writer for the last five years. Currently I am pursuing my Ph.D from IIT Bombay.
