ABERGAVENNY made a sensational start to their 2011 league season by putting Tondu in to bat at Bryn Road and then bowling them out for a measly 84.
Despite being without the services of three or their four leading seam bowlers from last season, Aber went into the fray with a strong side, confident of carrying on from where they left off in 2011.
Winning the toss, skipper James Schofield inserted Tondu who initially got off to a fast start against opening bowlers Ryan Watkins and first-team debutant Dan Cooke.
Some good drives on what looked a decent wicket carried them to 30 for no wicket in the fifth over.
Watkins made the first breakthrough, when Stennar in bat fell to last year's league player of the season Greg Fury.
Two overs later, Watkins struck again as Harris was caught at cover, by the first of four catches in the game for Schofield.
Nevertheless, despite these wickets, it appeared a good track and to all intent it seemed Aber would have to work hard for their wickets.
In the tenth over, Ryan 'Midge' Jones was introduced into the attack to change the pace. He struck in his first over, clean bowling Owen.
This was the start of a brilliant spell from Midge, as he bowled intelligently, wicket-to-wicket, always testing the batsmen.
With subtle movement, and changes of pace, allied to a flawless catching performance from the fielders, Midge bowled unchanged for seven overs, recording the magnificent figures of 5-20.
At the other end, Ben Pike used the breeze well, and picked up 1-13 with his away swing, before new boy Will Ford was introduced into the attack.
The leg spinner's spell was short but fruitful and he picked up the final two wickets for just four runs - one to an LBW and the second to a catch by Aber's third debutant Will Glenn.
Aber used just 22.5 overs to wrap up the Tondu innings as the collapsed from 30-0 to 84 all out.
After a 10-minute turnaround, opening batsmen Fury and Andrew Jones went out to begin the Beavers' run chase. Jones got the innings off to a flyer with a sumptuous pulled six over midwicket and a well timed four, both in the first over.
The openers were in no mood to hang about and both played some superb shots in racing to the victory target in just 11.5 overs.
Jones finished on 33 not out from 36 balls while Fury continued in the same vein as last season in compiling 47 from just 34 balls.
A fine start from Aber, who will hope to maintain their excellent form when they take on Sudbrook at Avenue Road next week, in what promises to be another competitive and enthralling league season.
Elsewhere in Division One of the Glamorgan and Monmoutshire League, Usk also hit their form early when they entertained Croesyceiliog.
Batting first, Mike Barber made an impressive 140 and alongside Mark Tamplin (81), added 238 for the second wicket.
Ollie James got 28 not out as Usk reached 302-4 in their 50 overs with Nathan Marsh taking 2-59 for Croesy.
THE Beavers started their 2011 season with a three wicket victory over Strollers at Crickhowell.
On a very green wicket, skipper Winstanley won the toss and had no hesitation in putting Strollers in to bat.
The openers started tentatively against Cooke and Havard, although had no early scares. It was Cooke however who took the first wicket of the season trapping Strollers captain Toomer LBW with the score at 25.
Strollers continued to build, but the introduction of 13 year old Tom Keane soon paid dividends. Keane bowled an excellent length on the helpful wicket, and soon picked up three wickets.
Keane was ably supported by 12 year old Tristan Astley-Jones as the Strollers struggled.
As youngsters, Keane and Astley-Jones could only bowl a four over spell, the experience of Gary Thomas and Mark Winstanley was called on, and they kept up the pressure on Strollers, both picking up two wickets.
Strollers struggled over a hundred, but when Keane was re-introduced, he polished off the tail as the vistiors were dismissed for just 129. Keane finished with outstanding debut figures of five for 16 off 7.3 overs.
In reply, regular openers Nathan and Lewis Holley got the Beavers off to a solid start with a stand of 47, with Nathan Holley punishing anything short through the offside.
Lewis Holley failed to establish himself, and played a rash attempted pull shot to a full delivery and was bowled with the score at 47.
This heralded a mini collapse, as Gwyn Pritchard was dismissed first ball, and then next over Nathan Holley was bowled for 26 with the score still at 47. Richard Roberts (30), another debutant, steadied the ship with some excellent shots, supported by Matt Botting (12), but both were dismissed with the score at 94 for five.
Gary Thomas (17) and Mark Winstanley (10 n.o.) saw the home side to within 1 run of victory, before Thomas was dismissed LBW, followed next ball by Tristan Astley-Jones superbly caught at point.
The inevitable victory came shortly afterwards with a legside bye.
This was a solid start to the season for the Beavers, who will be looking to put in a concerted effort for league honours in 2011. For Tom Keane, his debut match really couldn't have gone much better.