However, the Kruger van Wyk-captained side eked out a victory over the Otago Volts in New Plymouth on Wednesday but it came at the expense of hosting the title match tomorrow.
How, who announced just before Christmas he was retiring to pursue a corporate career with Toyota New Zealand in Palmerston North and spend more time with "cricketing widow" Tammy and their two children, is coming to terms with a "real job" this week.
"The missus is looking for a change of pace and a different type of lifestyle," he says, adding elder daughter Emily has worked out she'll have more quality time with her dad.
"It's [work] certainly an eye opener but I'm enjoying it and looking forward to it.
"It's certainly a difference in a lot of ways so that's what appeals as I definitely was in need of a change," says the righthander, who spends a fair whack of time going in and out of conference rooms in his first week of work.
In fact, the past month has sort of drawn out his retirement process from domestic cricket.
"I've been a bit overwhelmed and humbled by people's kind words in the past month."
The Manawatu cricketer has had record-breaking partnerships for CD since making his first-class debut in 2000-01. He has racked up 16 Plunket Shield (four-day) centuries and 38 half tons, as well as 149 catches, in whites.
A slips merchant, he has four one-day domestic centuries to his credit, 29 half tons and 80 catches. How has also smashed a highest score of 102 runs from 74 T20 matches, averaging 26.05.
He skippered CD for six summers, leading them to victory in the 2008 HRV Cup (T20) and, subsequently, to the Champions League, as well as the 2012-13 Ford Trophy.
How claims the bragging rights to the top three all-time domestic one-day scores, his knock of 177 just after Christmas against the Canterbury Kings in New Plymouth -- his ton coming off 61 balls as the third fastest in the competition's history -- sits below the 222 he carved up two summers ago at Seddon Park, Hamilton, in his five domestic one-day centuries.
His 156 runs against the Auckland Aces last summer is the third highest competition score. Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum holds the record for the fastest ton and How the second fastest.
However, this T20 season in 2014-15 How has had lean pickings, scrounging 106 runs at 17.66, prompting Malan and his two other selectors to drop him from the line-up shortly before he announced his retirement.
How wasn't available for the preliminary final on Wednesday due to work but confesses to following every ball of the game on the New Zealand Cricket website.
"At times the guys slipped up at crucial periods."
Winning silverware, he says, is what it's all about at this level and the newbies did exceptionally well in helping CD earn a crack at the grand final.
It goes without saying seasoned players like him try to absorb that extra pressure at the height of battle.
In keeping with the CD mantra of "playing for the team and each other", How thinks he's "way down that list". "I think I'm very lucky to be in another final because many people don't have that chance throughout their career."
CD boast opener George Worker as the competition's top run scorer and Andrew Mathieson as the top wicket taker.
How expects tomorrow's pitch to offer pace and bounce that'll bring his aggression to the fore.
