India, Oct. 31 -- Rishabh Pant's much-anticipated return to first-class cricket ended in a brief, tantalising glimpse of his familiar aggression before an untimely dismissal as India A folded for 234 against South Africa A on the second day of their four-day match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday. The visitors took firm control, stretching their overall lead to 105 runs by stumps.

Back in action after a three-month injury layoff, Pant walked in to a warm reception but lasted just 29 minutes, making 17 runs off 22 balls. The left-hander began in typical fashion, attempting an audacious heave off pacer Tshepo Moreki even before he had settled. He soon got going, lofting off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen over mid-on for his first boundar...