The 22-year-old left-hander scored his maiden first-class century to drag the Volts through to 300 in their second innings against Central Districts in Palmerston North yesterday.
His resolve in reaching 115 was not enough to help Otago avoid defeat in its last game of the summer.
Central Districts pushed past the victory target of 188 with five wickets in hand.
The Volts were outplayed and their long title drought will stretch into a 36th year.
But Parkes is part of a crew of impressive younger players coming through who offer promise for a brighter future.
When you consider Jacob Cumming (19), Max Chu (23), Ben Lockrose (23 yesterday), Dale Phillips (24) and Dean Foxcroft (24) are all under 25 as well, it is easy to feel optimistic about the years ahead.
Parkes made his debut last season but went uncontracted this year.
That will almost certainly change given the campaign he has had.
He has been Otago’s most consistent red-ball batter, notching five half centuries and his maiden ton.
"I’d been so close before so it was good to get the monkey off my back," he said in reference to the 96 he made against a classy Northern Districts attack earlier in the season.
"I’m pretty stoked [with how the season has gone]. There has been some ups and downs, but it has been good to be around the team and experience a full professional season."
Parkes will head to the United Kingdom in mid-April to play for Three Bridges Cricket Club in Crawley.
That means he will not be turning out for the Sharks in the Dunedin premier rugby grade. But he does plan to return to Dunedin and play for the Volts if given the chance.
He can bank on that.
Parkes played some shots of real class yesterday, but none where better than the exquisite on-drive off Ray Toole just before he was eventually dismissed by Ajaz Patel, who nabbed six for 95 form 39.1 overs.
The young man was quickly back in the action. He nabbed a catch at gully to removed first innings century-maker Jack Boyle for one.
Jake Gibson, who is only 25 and shone during the white ball formats, speared in a throw to help run out Greg Hay for 22.
The home side was 40 for two and under some pressure.
But Curtis Heaphy (35) and Brad Schmulian put on 69 for the third wicket to make a big dent in the modest target.
Schmulian pushed on to make 61 from 60 balls before he became one of Foxcroft’s three victims.
Tom Bruce (33 not out) and Josh Clarkson (30 not out) closed out the game.
Central’s (87 points) win has lifted it into second place in the standings behind Canterbury (101 points).
But it has a game in hand and can still leapfrog Canterbury and claim the title.
The Volts finished last with 53 points.
Promising Wellington all-rounder Muhammad Abbas attempted to carry the Firebirds to victory against Canterbury with 82.
His side was chasing 367 for victory but was rolled for 228.
Canterbury seam bowler Sean Davey added four more wickets to his first innings haul of seven for 25 to claim his maiden 10-wicket bag.
Northern Districts was chasing 416 against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval but that proved out of reach.
Bharat Popli scored an unbeaten 101 but Northern was bowled out for 344 and lost by 71 runs.
Danru Ferns grabbed five for 79 for the Aces.
OTAGO
First innings 268
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
First innings 381
OTAGO
H Rutherford run out (Findlay) 7
J Cumming c Cleaver b Toole 59
D Foxcroft c Schmulian b Patel 25
T Parkes c Hay b Patel 115
D Phillips lbw b Findlay 33
J Gibson c Cleaver b Patel 1
M Chu lbw b Patel 2
B Lockrose c Heaphy b Schmulian 3
J Duffy c Findlay b Patel 8
A Hazeldine lbw b Patel 14
M Rae not out 22
Extras (2b, 4lb, 4w, 1nb) 11
Total (all out, 90.1 overs) 300
Fall: 1-12, 2-70, 3-122, 4-166, 5-169, 6-171, 7-182, 8-207, 9-243, 10-300.
Bowling: R Toole 18-3-72-1 (2w, 1nb), B Small 4-0-21-0, J Clarkson 5-0-23-0 (1w), A Patel 39.1-9-95-6 (1w), B Schmulian 17-3-44-1, T Findlay 7-0-39-1.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS
C Heaphy b Foxcroft 35
J Boyle c Parkes b Duffy 1
G Hay run out (Gibson/Chu) 22
B Schmulian c Phillips b Foxcroft 61
T Bruce not out 33
D Cleaver c Gibson b Foxcroft 5
J Clarkson not out 30
Extras (1b1, 2w) 3
Total (5wkts, 41.4 overs)190
Fall: 1-5, 2-40, 3-109, 4-134, 5-154.
Bowling: J Duffy 5-0-21-1, A Hazeldine 6-1-28-0 (2w), B Lockrose 14.4-1-74, M Rae 7-0-32-0, D Foxcroft 9-2-34-3.
Result: Central Districts won by five wickets.
