Parsons, who has just joined High School after turning out for Marist last season, had one problem ... running out of partners.
The more he attempted to farm the bowling, the more Saracens tried to keep him off strike and work the other end where wickets fell regularly.
With Tyler McIlwaine providing support for the seventh wicket, Parsons swung Dan Gordon away behind square leg for four to bring up his ton.
He tried to repeat the trick next ball with a lofted shot and was dropped by Scott Oliver - a miss that, at the time, looked likely to cost Saracens the game.
However, a couple of overs later, Parsons went on to the front foot to hit Gordon over the top and the ball was skied to deep mid off where Saracens skipper Dom Rayner held a difficult catch in the swirling wind.
Parsons was gone for 106 and High School were 131-7, needing 20 off six overs as a thrilling finish loomed.
With McIlwaine there, it still looked possible, but the students only had 10 batsmen which meant only two wickets in hand. Ten runs off the last three overs with the last pair at the crease and Ben Symes came back to finish off the innings and leave High School four runs short of what would have been a famous win.
Earlier, Dom Rayner had held the Saracens effort together with 63, while brother Chris played a useful cameo at the tailend to push the total to 150.
The other premier game at Springvale saw Marist's Scrooge-like attack put the squeeze on the Tech Old Boys batting lineup.
Both teams were short of key players but Tech seemed to miss them the most as their innings never got out of first gear. They were all out for 62 in 33 rather painful overs, with Marist newcomer Bevan Hunter cashing in at the end with 5-10.
In reply, Marist had no such problems getting the scoreboard ticking, with openers Craig Thorpe and Chris Stewart keen to get on with the celebrations.
Thorpe, in particular, looked in complete control, winning the match in the 14th over by smacking Plumridge for six over square leg - a spot where Stewart had twice dispatched the same bowler in his previous over.
At Collegiate, Wanganui newcomer Andrew McCaa led the United assault with an unbeaten half-century in a total of 155.
Having moved up from Blenheim after playing rep cricket for Marlborough, McCaa looks likely to be an exciting addition to the local scene.
The students' response was a solid one from openers Martyn O'Leary and Francis McKeefry but the game turned decisively United's way with the introduction of Tom Lance's off-spin.
The rep bowler bagged five wickets as United came home by 30 runs.
Premier 2 cricket was grateful to be finally under way on Saturday when the top scorer was Taihape's Mark Riley, who showed quality and composure in chasing down Saracens' 154-9 target.
Riley hit 10 fours and a six in a fine 77 not out as Taihape won on a wide, thrown down by Phil Galpin.
