"For me that pitch turned a little from outside off and kind of skidded on straight on so I just kind of based my plans around that and tried to succeed anyway I can around it."
In Patel fashion, he paid tribute to the Stags' seam attack of Doug Bracewell, Ben Wheeler, Ryan McCone and Blair Tickner for tightening the screws on the Knights.
"The day panned out because they all bowled exceptionally well because they didn't really allow ND to get on to any kind of a roll, so everyone who came on executed their plans very well."
The 28-year-old thought that was the sort of template CD coach Heinrich Malan wanted the bowlers to adopt.
Patel echoed the sentiments of ND, saying despite the forecast for rain tomorrow they had to carry on playing smart cricket.
"You just kind of go with the day ahead of you but, obviously, we want to put some runs on the board and try to knock them over for our first win of the season," he said as the Knights started the round-five match here on the top rung of the shield table, while win-less CD are at the bottom of the six-team red-ball competition.
However, he cautioned the William Young-captained Stags didn't want to look too far ahead but take session by session in their stride to see what the remaining two days hold in store for them.
Patel refrained from predicting a target, preferring to leave it to Young. The Stags players, in particular, found the 30-plus temperatures challenging.
"It was pretty hot this morning when the breeze was running off the hills, but lucky for us it changed directions in the middle of the day and the breeze started coming from the sea so it was much cooler," he said amid a kinder 21C forecast today.
Patel lauded the opening batting partnership of Greg Hay and Ben Smith, who will resume this morning on unbeaten 35 and 60, respectively, for the loss of no wickets in their second innings.
CD lead by 180 runs after ND were skittled for 153 yesterday in 73.2 overs.
"They've done a great job tonight by going out there and being positive and showing good intent so, hopefully, more of it tomorrow," he said.
After what seemed to be a below-par total of 225 all out in the first innings, he felt the openers had provided a perfect platform to make amends on a wicket that is flattening out but, with extreme heat, may offer more traction, although that would be in contradiction to tradition at Nelson Park.
"You see, in this kind of weather anything can happen but it never really breaks up too much so we'll see what happens."
ND coach James Pamment saluted the Stags bowlers for stifling his batsmen.
"They created pressure and we just didn't come up with the right answers so we'll look to bowl again tomorrow," said Pamment.
He wasn't sure what the wicket was going to do, but lamented ND bowlers not putting the ball in the right areas.
Pamment said while wicketkeeper Seifert top scored, a couple of others spent time out on the crease but didn't go on to turn their double figures into swinging the day in their favour.
The ND camp were delighted at Dean's call-up after the 32-year-old captained several games.
"He worked extremely hard to get back in," said Pamment, revealing Daryl Mitchell has slipped on the skipper's armband.
In came Northland's Henry Cooper to make his debut, driving in after playing in the four-way Provincial A T20 tourney in Taupo on Tuesday. "He's making his debut and has been a prolific scorer in district and ND A cricket, so it's nice for him to get a reward and an opportunity."
