Parkes scores maiden century

Maiden ton: Otago Volts cricketer and former Poverty Bay men’s captain Thorn Parkes, 21, raises his bat. Parkes made 115 in his maiden first-class century and highest first-class score for the Volts in a five-wicket loss to the Central Stags at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, yesterday. PhotoSport picture

Thorn Parkes is on the front foot now.
Former Poverty Bay men’s senior representative captain and left-handed top-order batsman Parkes, 22, yesterday scored his maiden first-class century.
Playing for Otago Volts, Parkes — who will play for English club Three Bridges in the Sussex Premier League during the New Zealand winter — made 115 off 193 balls with nine boundaries in 279 minutes batting at No.4 against the Central Stags.
He made his first 50 runs from 103 balls in 151 minutes and the ton off 163 balls in 243 minutes.
He got off the mark by smashing a sweep-shot for four through New Zealand test spinner Ajaz Patel’s bat-pad fielders, tucked South African leg-spinner Brad Schmulian’s break from around the wicket behind square to bring up his 50 and split Patel’s point and cover for two runs and the century.
His effort came in his team’s second innings in their five-wicket loss to the Stags in Round 8 of the four-day Plunket Shield competition at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North.
He put on 52 for the third wicket with fellow leftie Jacob Cumming (59) and 44 with Dale Phillips (33).
Sandton-born left-armer Ray Toole (1-72 in 18 overs) was reduced to bowling a bouncer over Parkes’s head and down the leg side to restrict his scoring.
Parkes nonetheless on-drove him for six then played a leg glance for one to end the 90th over. Parkes was the last man to fall, to Patel, caught by Hay at long-off, from the first ball of the 91st over with the score at 300.
“I had a bit of luck and had to graft against a spinner (Patel) who took 10 wickets in an innings against India, so that was good,” Parkes said.
“The guys I batted with, I was pleased with our communication and running between wickets. I always knew I could do it; I just hadn’t done it until now.
“Now I’ll take a break until April.”
Parkes made 54 and 58 in Round 1 of the Plunket Shield against Auckland. His batsmanship was at the heart of the Volts’ 168-run hammering of the Aucklanders. He made four not out and one in his first-class debut — against Auckland in Dunedin in February 2022 — and now has a score in three figures to go with five half-centuries in nine matches, 16 innings at an average of 36.
Parkes made 104no for Northern Districts A against Auckland at the age of 18, and 129 — his first senior representative century — for former Northern Knight Neal Parlane’s Northland side three years ago.
Parlane was delighted at yesterday’s news.
“Basic skills and having good people around him are important — Thorn’s got those,” Parlane said.
“We share a common bond with you guys down there. He came close with a 96 against ND last October and was playing on instinct then, but he’s learned from that. Today was a big day for him.”