Brazil, led by skipper Laura Cardoso, secured the Kalahari Women’s T20I Tournament 2026 title with a thrilling three-wicket win over hosts Botswana in the Super League final at Botswana Cricket Association Oval 1 in Gaborone on April 11, 2026.
The closely fought final capped a competitive tournament featuring six teams — Brazil, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, and Zambia — played between April 6 and April 11, highlighting emerging talent and strong performances across the competition.
Team Performances Overview
Zambia
Under the leadership of Nancy Chabula, Zambia endured a challenging campaign, finishing without a win in seven matches. Filo Chenda emerged as their leading run-scorer with 34 runs in seven innings, while Chabula contributed 23 runs. With the ball, Chabula led the attack with 10 wickets at an average of 13 and an economy rate of 5.65.
Mozambique
Christina Magala’s Mozambique began strongly with three early wins but struggled to maintain consistency in the latter stages. They eventually lost to Malawi in the third-place playoff. Cristina Magaia and Palmira Cuinica were among the top contributors with the bat, while Regina Mazumba led the bowling effort with 10 wickets at an average of 9.30 and an economy of 4.89.
Lesotho
Led by Maneo Nyabela, Lesotho managed two wins from seven matches, both coming against Zambia. Kananelo Molapo topped their batting charts with 51 runs, while Boitumelo Tlali was the leading wicket-taker with 7 wickets at an average of 15.42 and an economy of 4.40.
Malawi
Euless Chiralile’s Malawi impressed with five wins in the league stage and secured third place after edging Mozambique by one wicket. Sugeni Kananji starred with 14 wickets at an average of 6.42 and an economy of 3.10, while also scoring 86 runs. Praize Maziya led the batting charts with 92 runs at an average of 30.66.
Botswana
Hosts Botswana, captained by Tuelo Shadrack, reached the final after winning four matches. Despite a spirited effort while defending a low total of 38 in the final, they finished as runners-up. Pako Mapotsane scored 202 runs at a strike rate of 108.02, while Shadrack claimed 15 wickets at an average of 5.46 and an economy of 2.92.
Brazil
Brazil, under Laura Cardoso, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and emerged as champions. Cardoso delivered standout performances, including a record 9-wicket haul against Lesotho on April 9. She finished as the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets at an average of 2 and an economy of 2.24, and also topped the run charts with 203 runs at a strike rate of 130.12 and an average of 50.75.
Statistical Leaders
Most Runs
- Laura Cardoso (Brazil): 203 runs
- Pako Mapotsane (Botswana): 202 runs
- Roberta Moretti (Brazil): 160 runs
- Laura Mophakedi (Botswana): 155 runs
- Laura Agatha (Brazil): 141 runs
Most Wickets
- Laura Cardoso (Brazil): 17 wickets
- Tuelo Shadrack (Botswana): 15 wickets
- Sugeni Kananji (Malawi): 14 wickets
- Praise Maziya (Malawi): 13 wickets
- Lucy Malino (Malawi): 12 wickets
A Tournament Defined by Brazil’s Dominance
Brazil’s unbeaten run and consistent performances marked a standout campaign, with Laura Cardoso playing a central role in both batting and bowling departments. The tournament showcased competitive cricket and emerging talent, underlining the growing strength of women’s cricket in the region
