Stephen Lester
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Amberley, North Canterbury, New Zealand
Christchurch, New Zealand
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Stephen Garland Lester | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 March 1906 Amberley, North Canterbury, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 24 October 1971 (aged 65) Christchurch, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1929/30–1935/36 | Canterbury | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 12 July 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stephen Garland Lester (18 March 1906 – 24 October 1971) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Canterbury from 1929 to 1936.
A right-handed middle-order batsman and medium-pace bowler, Lester was a regular member of the Canterbury team in the early 1930s. His highest score came in his second match, when he scored 12 and 64 and took 2 for 45 and 3 for 56 against Wellington in the Plunket Shield.[1] His best bowling figures came a year later against Auckland, when in Canterbury's four-wicket victory he took 4 for 21 and 2 for 73 and made 35.[2] When there was speculation about the possible addition of a 15th player to the New Zealand team to tour England in 1931, Lester was one of the players in contention; however, only 14 toured.[3] A year later he was twelfth man for New Zealand in the First Test against South Africa in 1931-32, played in Christchurch.[4]
During the Second World War Lester served in New Zealand in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, first as a flying officer, then as a squadron leader and commanding officer of the Christchurch Wing.[5][6] He was a member of the New Zealand Cricket Council.[7]
The Stephen Lester Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the bowler taking the most wickets in the Christchurch men's premiership competition.[8]