World Cup 2015: Glenn was the difference, says Angelo

SYDNEY: Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews said that conceding 200 runs in the last 16 overs cost his team the match against Australia at the SCG on Sunday. He said that the team conceded 50 runs too many at the end. "We would have had a realistic chance if we were to chase down a target in region of 330," Mathews said."It was a bit too much to chase 377. We conceded 200 runs in the last 16 overs, and it was rather way too much. I thought we could have chased down 330. I thought the batsmen did really well, but unfortunately we couldn't get over the line," said Mathews. He praised the innings of Glenn Maxwell, saying, "There is not much we can do once he bats like that. He probably made the difference between a chaseable target and a difficult one for us." He praised Kumar Sangakkara's effort and the fact that he struck his third century in three successive innings and also becoming the second batsman after Sachin Tendulkar to cross the 14,000-run mark in ODIs.Mathews said: "Sangakkara is in the form of his life. Three hundreds in three games is absolutely amazing. Seems to be getting better with age. His performances have been phenomenal and so are his records. With him in that type of form, gives up the confidence and hope as we take the battle into the knockouts."On the team's chanced when he and Chandimal were together, he said "We backed ourselves when Chandimal and I were batting. It was unfortunate that Chandimal got injured at the wrong time."This retirement (from strained hamstring) affected our rhythm. If he had been there till the end, may be it would have been anybody's game. But, after I also got out it was asking for too much from the lower order as the Australians have some good bowlers who could reverse swing it a bit."He said, going into the last league match against Scotland and into the quarterfinals thereafter "we have to improve our bowling and fielding. And if we can keep a well-respected opposition to under 300, we should be good to chase it down."