No storybook ending for first rep century

Thorn Parkes will play for Poverty Bay against the Bay of Plenty second 11 at Mount Maunganui in a Basil McBurney Trophy 50-over game tomorrow. File picture

CRICKET

Darn! Well might cricketer Thorn Parkes say that, even in the wake of scoring his first senior representative century.

Parkes — who will turn out for Poverty Bay at the Northern Districts T20 Tournament at Taupo from December 15 to 17 — was the last man out in Northland’s drawn Spray Marks Fergus Hickey Rosebowl two-day game against Bay of Plenty at Cobham Oval, Whangarei, on Sunday.

Parkes was on 129 when he was dismissed by off-spinner Peter Drysdale — right-arm round the wicket — with Northland needing two runs to take first innings points. The field was up and the 19-year-old left-hander was bowled trying to cut the tall Drysdale off the stumps.

Parkess maiden representative ton nevertheless earned high praise from experienced judges.

“It was one of the better Northland innings I’ve seen, and I’ve played 110 games,” Northland coach and former Northern Knight Neal Parlane said.

“It was like watching a guy who’d played 50 first-class matches: he just took control.”

Former Northern Districts under-19 captain Parkes, batting at No.4, made 129 runs off 224 balls in 297 minutes at the crease, hitting 14 fours and a six.

While disappointed, Parkes — who made 104 not out at No.5 against Auckland A last season and was Auckland’s Young Cricketer of the Year in 2018 — appreciates his cricketing opportunities.

“Cobham’s an international ground — a good batting deck with a great outfield,” Parkes said.

“In this Northland team, our batsmen numbers 1 to 3 have a good temperament: they’re patient. I try to bat through.”

For the record, he brought up his first senior representative 50 in 90 balls and 113 minutes with eight fours; his 100 came off 188 balls in 237 minutes with 11 fours and a six.

Parkes debuted at Fergus Hickey Rosebowl level against Hamilton in a drawn match at Hamilton Boys’ High School two weeks ago. In Round 3 of that competition on February 8, Northland will play Waikato Valley at St Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton.