Lancashire’s Bolton batsman and white-ball skipper, Josh Bohannon, believes the future is bright for 18-year-old Keshana Fonseka.

The teenage Bolton School youngster made his first-team debut for the Red Rose in Thursday’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup defeat against Middlesex at Emirates Old Trafford.

Former Farnworth Social Circle star Bohannon was naturally disappointed with the defeat but says Fonseka’s display, hitting 42 off 50 balls on debut, and that of Rocky Flintoff, son of Andrew, were real positives.

Bohannon said: “We’re disappointed again. It’s frustrating and hard to take but there were some real positives in there as well.

“I thought the start Kesh gave us and Rocky’s performance, (we’ve got) a 16-year-old and 18-year-old showing us how to play. It’s a testament to those guys, the hard work they’ve put in.

“Kesh has come in for his first game and was positive and looked fearless. It was just how clear his plans were. It was good to watch.

“You want to see them (young players) learning week on week and hopefully we are not just playing because there’s a game. Everyone in that dressing room is trying to compete.

“This is one of those comps where people will get a chance and I’ll keep backing them and so will the coaching staff.”

Hyde CC youngster Fonseka joined the Lancashire Academy at the age of 15 and last year was winner of the Hindley Trophy at Bolton School Boys’ Division, which marks the outstanding sporting performance of the year, after scoring a century in his first innings representing England Under-19s.