The lower-order batsmen gave them a chance to make inroads to tighten the choker hold.
"Normally you're trying to hit the boundaries and trying to restrict the fours so it's nice to come in taking all the wickets early."
The 25-year-old from Marlborough said the wicket was a little "tacky" but when it dried up it offered bounce off a length.
"It was probably a nice one for us to bowl first," he said.
Worker took 3-26 while Wheeler and Seth Rance chimed in with two wickets each. Kain had the tidy figures of 1-17 from four overs.
Medium pacer Ryan McCone was the most most frugal with 1-6 from two overs.
Worker and Mahela Jayawardene provided a steady platform with an opening partnership of 52 as the Sri Lanka import top scored with 40 runs and the former made 32.
"They really set up the chase with 50 or so in the first six overs although we probably lost a few more wickets than we would have liked to but that's the way," said Wheeler.
It was a memorable day with the family on Sunday for Wheeler and batsman Tom Bruce who received a call from national selector Gavin Larsen on Christmas Eve to inform them of their inclusion into the 14-man Black Caps T20 squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh.
"I was on tour when the boys played T20s so it was a pretty awesome game because it brings a little bit more pressure so it'll be a great test," said six-ODI Wheeler.
He was still a little off his tempo yesterday while recovering from food poisoning.
"It took me out quite a bit, to be honest."
Bruce, 25, was pretty collected after his call up to add 24 runs to the cause.
"Yes, the usual Bruiser out there and he hit a couple of big sixes so he's obviously seeing the ball pretty well at the moment and playing the game really well," said Wheeler.
The Stags were upbeat after snapping out of a two-game loss.
"It's always good to be on the top and, hopefully, we can keep this momentum going we've got out of this game so the mood in the camp is pretty positive."
Wheeler said Auckland Aces would be another chance to step up and CD would be ready for them on Thursday at a compact Pukekura Park, New Plymouth.