The presidency of the Western Counties Cricket Association hangs in the balance after a vote for the position between incumbent Teresa Burrows and sole challenger Darren “Burch” Burchall ended in stalemate during the association’s Annual General Meeting at Warwick Workmen’s Club.

Both candidates received eight votes each at the AGM attended by all of the association’s members with the exception of PHC.

Another vote will be held during a special meeting at Warwick Workmen’s Club tonight to determine the leadership of the association moving forward with all members expected to be in attendance this time around.

Meanwhile, Southampton Rangers are set to resume playing in the Western Counties competition during the upcoming cricket season.

Rangers pulled out of the competition after a dispute with tournament organisers to stage last year’s series a White Hill Field and not at their ground at Southampton Oval, a move they argued contravenes the Western Counties Cricket Association’s constitution.

A Rangers spokesperson confirmed that the club will be participating in the competition this year.

“We are going to play in county this year,” the spokesperson told The Royal Gazette.

“The question was asked at the Western Counties AGM but I had already met with the club's cricket management and we agreed to play this year.

“We took a stand last year and it feels prudent to honour the wishes of Clarence “Man” Raynor (late Rangers cricketer and groundsman) and some of our ageing members to play.”

Last year was the second time that Rangers have pulled out of the competition in the past 14 years after they did so in 2011 in protest against the games being played at Somerset Cricket Club, which is not affiliated with the Western Counties.

In response to Rangers’ decision to withdraw, Western Counties president Burrows expressed sadness over their actions but stressed that all factors were taken into consideration before making the decision to stage the competition at White Hill Field.