Bradburn credits Twenty/20 cricket for his side's success as they host Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags in the fourth round at Seddon Park, Hamilton, tomorrow.
"That's the No1 reason why ND are getting better at playing it [Ford Trophy]."
ND are three and oh, inflicting the first defeat on defending champions CD in the opener in Nelson.
The visitors have only one win.
Bradburn also feels the extra fielder inside the ring and one fewer outside means bowlers have to do their jobs more intelligently.
"We've come across some pretty poor bowling so far in our games."
He says the other vital cog in the wheel is astute captaincy, something he attributes to veteran James Marshall for their victory over Otago Volts in Invercargill on Sunday.
"You need a smart captain who knows where the fielders should be placed."
CD will have seamer Bevan Small back in the mix with Adam Milne nursing a quad strain.
Carl Cachopa returns from NZ XI duties although Bradburn says Corey Anderson isn't in his equation tomorrow.
William Young's poor form cost him a place in CD's matrix.
"You have to try to take wickets and Bevan will do that," CD coach Alan Hunt said, adding he was also a classy fielder and a useful tailend batsman.
CD STAGS: Jamie How, Jeet Raval, Carl Cachopa, Mathew Sinclair, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Kruger van Wyk, Tarun Nethula, Bevan Small, Marty Kain, Ben Wheeler, Andrew Mathieson.
Coach: Alan Hunt.
Assistant coach: Lance Hamilton.
ND KNIGHTS: Daniel Flynn, Anton Devcich, James Marshall (c), Cameron Fletcher (wk), Brett Hampton, Daryl Mitchell, Brad Wilson, Jonno Boult, Graeme Aldrige, Brent Arnel, Anuragh Verma, Jono Hickey.
Coach: Grant Bradburn.
