EX-BOLTON League star Josh Bohannon could hardly have faced a tougher introduction to first-class cricket with Lancashire – but he made an impressive fist of it by scoring a debut half-century against County Championship leaders Surrey at the Oval.

Bolton’s Bohannon was handed his debut by Red Rose coach Glen Chapple in their ongoing Division One clash.

It owed much to Jordan Clark’s unavailability given his impending move to Surrey on a three-year deal.

And the 21-year-old all-rounder took his chance with a first-innings 52 from 108 balls, battling against one of the world’s best bowlers late on the first evening on Sunday.

“Having Morne Morkel running in at you with a pink ball in the dark is not what you expect on your first-class debut,” he smiled. “It was a bit different!

“I just had to make sure I got through the night. That was my only objective.

“It was a really good experience for me.”

Bohannon went on to share 47 for the seventh wicket with West Indies legend Shiv Chanderpaul as Lancashire took a first-innings lead of 36 before Surrey fought back in their second innings, which included a maiden wicket for the former Farnworth Social Circle man.

“I’ve batted with Shiv a few times in the second team, and it’s always good fun with what he’s saying and how he goes about things,” he said.

“I had to bat for as long as I could.

“I was gutted to get out the way I did and at the time I did (lbw to the off-spin of Amar Virdi).”

Earlier this season, Bohannon made his one-day and T20 debuts for Lancashire, and he will hope to play in Thursday’s Vitality Blast quarter-final with Kent at Canterbury – a repeat of the 2015 quarter-final when the Lightning went on to win the Blast.

“Glen Chapple is trying to give everyone a chance, and Liam Livingstone has got the mentality that if you deserve to play, you will do,” added Bohannon.

“It’s not a case of ‘this is our group of first-team players and that’s it’.

“The coaches and captain back you, so you have an incline when you’re doing well and have to keep pushing and working hard.

“It was a tight call between myself and Danny Lamb who was going to play, but unfortunately for him he didn't quite pick up the pink ball in practice.

“I got the nod, and it was a really proud moment.”