A Brief History
It is safe to assume Old Basing were in existence at the turn of the 19th century, as there is evidence of games played against the likes of Hackwood, Basingstoke, Hartley and Greywell in the 1820s.
With local clubs Hartley Wintney and Odiham in existence pre 1800, who have long ago celebrated their bicentenary’s, it is highly likely fixtures against Old Basing were taking place then.
Old Basing led a nomadic existence throughout the 19th century and up to the 2nd world war. Games were played for many years at what is now the burial ground, adjacent to St Marys church, a field adjacent to Basing common where the Royal British legion club now stands, Hackwood park and Mapledurwell. In the 20th century Lord Bolton donated a field adjacent to the village brickworks for cricket use.
In the mid 1950s the Holmes family gifted what is now the recreation ground (their former front garden of the big house) to the Parish Council to act as Trustee for the use of sport and recreation in the village and a permanent home was finally found for the Old Basing Cricket club.
The club have been successful in the local prestigious Guy Jewell Cup competition, winning it 7 times, firstly in 1968, and there followed 2 triumphs in the 1980s , 1990s, and the noughties, the last of which was in 2009 when they defeated Southern League Hartley Wintney off the last ball of an exciting game at Mays Bounty.
Old Basing’s most successful season was in 2000, when the 1st team won Southern League Division 3, the 2nd team achieved promotion to the Hampshire League and the 3rd team in only their 2nd season achieved promotion. The midweek team won the North Hants midweek league division 1 and the Noel Fisher plate was also won.
In most recent years our 1st team have progressed through the higher Divisions of the Hampshire Cricket League, and the 2019 season saw us back in County Division 1. The 1st team finished the 2019 season in 7th place, the first time the team has remained in County 1 after promotion since 1995. The 2nd team currently compete in HCL Div 4 North. The 3rd team play in HCL Div 5 North East. The club introduced a 4th team for the 2020 season which will start in HCL Div 6 North East.