BASINGSTOKE and North Hants face a big weekend starting tomorrow with the visit of Banbury in the Home Counties League, before they make the trip to Cheam on Sunday in the second round of the Evening Standard Cup.

The May's Bounty men came as close as they could to their first league victory last weekend as Finchampstead batted out the final overs to secure a draw with nine wickets down.

Basingstoke are currently in seventh spot in the division one table, 13 points behind tomorrow's visitors, who were champions of the league in 2000.

When these sides met last season at May's Bounty in May, the visitors took the honours with a seven-wicket win thanks to an unbeaten 105 not out from Craig Haupt, who will, once again, be the dangerman tomorrow.

He scored 156 for Banbury last Saturday in a total of 307-4 as they drew against Oxford.

Basingstoke skipper Lee Nurse said: "They are a good batting team and we will have to try to get Haupt out early.

"Last week we came close to winning and if we can give it an extra 10 per cent this week we should hopefully come out on top."

On the team front Jon Govett is out due to a back injury and is replaced by Chris Chandler, while Julian Wood is unavailable and his place will go to Graham James.

On Sunday, it is a journey into the unknown for Basingstoke with Wood and Govett once again out of the line-up, as is James Morris (pictured), while Hampshire Academy player Mitchell Stokes is in the starting 11.

Basingstoke II drew with visiting Cove last Saturday as they chased 235-5 and finished on 174-6 in the Thames Valley League.

Daniel Leese (69 not out) and James (59) were the home heroes.

Basingstoke V collected their second win in as many weeks as they crushed visiting Cove IV by 148 runs.

Pete Wellman, with a fine 82, helped the home side to 228-6 with Graham Steers making a useful 69.

In reply, Cove were shot out for 80 as Dutch Holland took 6-28 to go with his 7-40 last week.