No3 batsman Ben Smith likes to think CD are "building some momentum", evident at Saxton Oval after the visitors won the toss - and that's about all - and elected to bat for a pedestrian total of 255-8 on a low-and-slow wicket.
Where the two Michaels - Pollard (55 runs) and Papps (35) - provided the platform and No3 Stephen Murdoch (61) backed up, the others let things slide to the rabbits to pick up the slack.
No9 Malaseili Tugaga was unbeaten on 32, beating his previous best List A score of 10 runs, while debutant Dean Hutchinson was 16 not out at No10.
The Heinrich Malan-coached CD, without Seth Rance, Ben Wheeler and Doug Bracewell, had impressed on opening batsman George Worker and allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett to step up.
They did with aplomb - tweaker Worker taking 3-31 (List-A best) and Noema-Barnett outstanding with 1-38 off nine overs at a thrifty 3.78 an over.
Adam Milne took 3-46 off his 10, including two maidens, but then you tend to expect that from a Black Cap.
Spinner Marty Kain showed promise post-injury in matching Milne's frugality (4.6), albeit wicket-less.
In reply, CD were 259-4 in 44.1 overs and Brent Arnel took 4-38 to earn some respect but his fellow bowlers were wicket-less, going for more than five an over.
While one-day leading run scorer Worker (9 runs) appeared shy, fellow opener Jamie How smashed 53 off 27 balls.
No3 Smith (75) and No4 Will Young (97no) forged a match-winning partnership.
It was a milestone for the pair - Smith's previous best was 54 and Young's 65.
"Howser and George have been great so the likes of me and Youngy can do the job," Smith said. "Young and I stood up today but on other days Howser and George did."
The Ruahine Motors Central Hawke's Bay cricketer said the openers had rocked in the campaign.
Smith, who turns 24 tomorrow, had a sterling start to the four-day Plunket Shield with a ton in October but, while stroking the ball masterfully in the T20 campaign, wasn't able to thread it through the fielders.
"I'm young and growing on my feet so I'm still finding a pattern."
The beauty of the Stags, he said, was the ability of someone to contribute when others couldn't.
Did CD sympathise with a winless Jamie Siddons-coached Firebirds? "We don't feel sorry for them but we understand because we've been in that situation before."
CD have three wins, losing by 13 runs to the Northern Districts Knights in round two.
They host Auckland Aces at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North, on Thursday.
