Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara on Saturday claimed that if they could score 20 runs more against Bangladesh, the result could have been different.

Sri Lanka nearly pulled off a thrilling victory against Bangladesh in their second Group D match in Dallas as they reduced the Tigers to 113-8 while defending a total of 124 runs.

Thushara played the most important part to take the game deep for Sri Lanka as he claimed 4-18 in his four overs but Bangladesh eventually held their nerves to register their maiden victory over the neighbouring nation in the T20 World Cup.

“Yes, the pitch was a difficult one and it was hard for the batters. We were just 20 runs short. If we could have scored those 20 extra runs, we could have won this match. But we did our best for 120 too as we wanted to win this match somehow. We played till the last ball thinking that we could win this match,” Thushara said after the defeat.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan’s Team Manager Mahinda Halangode was hopeful to show better performance in their remaining two games after their side’s chance to qualify for Super Eight nearly ended on Saturday.

Before losing to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka suffered a six-wicket defeat to South Africa in New York.

“Well, I am sure the team at the moment obviously with this loss they were very disappointed and I can see their mood in the dressing room now,” he said.

“We are hopeful that we will do much better against Nepal and Netherlands,” said the former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer.