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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan punished poor catching from South Africa to accumulate 259-5 on the opening day of the second and final Test in Rawalpindi on Monday.

Had the tourists not dropped five catches on a turning pitch they would have been in a better position after Pakistan won the toss and batted.

Skipper Shan Masood, dropped on 71 off a luckless Keshav Maharaj, top-scored with 87 while Abdullah Shafique — dropped four times — made 57.

Saud Shakeel and Salman Agha will resume on Tuesday unbeaten on 42 and 10 respectively, with the home team seeking a 2-0 series win against the world Test champions.

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada trapped Mohammad Rizwan with the fifth delivery with the second new ball for 19 to give some respite to his team.

Maharaj, who missed the first Test in Lahore through injury, took 2-63 and fellow spinner Simon Harmer 2-75.

With the bulk of bowling done by Maharaj and Harmer, spinner Senuran Muthusamy — who took 11 wickets in the first Test — was surprisingly used for just four overs.

The final session also saw Masood fall to an uppish sweep off Maharaj, caught by Marco Jansen, after hitting two four and three sixes in his innings.

Earlier, Shafique’s chancy knock finally ended when he edged Harmer to wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne after adding an invaluable 111 runs for the second wicket with skipper Masood.

The struggling Babar Azam, again cheered by a home crowd willing him to return to form, was dismissed for just 16 when Tony de Zorzi took a low catch at silly point for Maharaj’s first wicket.

Azam has gone 29 Test innings without a century.

Maharaj himself dropped Shafique on 15 off his own bowling and then saw Aiden Markram drop the same batter on 41 and 53.

Shafique also survived on nine when a Jansen delivery rolled onto the stumps but did not dislodge the bails.

In the morning session South Africa’s only breakthrough came from Harmer, who bowled Imam-ul-Haq for 17 with a sharp turner that beat the bat and hit off-stump.

Rabada was also unlucky when Tristan Stubbs dropped Shafique in the slips off the fourth ball of the match when he was on nought.

Having won the first Test in Lahore by 93 runs, Pakistan included a third spinner in Asif Afridi, dropping fast bowler Hasan Ali.

At 38 years and 299 days, Asif became the second oldest Pakistani Test debutant, behind Miran Bakhsh, who made his debut at 47 years and 284 days against India in 1955.

DUBAI: The Women’s Epic Arabia, the region’s first and only trail running series created exclusively for women, is set to return to Dubai on Nov. 1.

The event will be held at Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, with support from the Dubai Sports Council and managed by CAB Sports.

Born in the mountains of Utah, the Women’s Epic was created to give women their own space on the trails, a place to push limits, discover strength and celebrate every finish line. Today, that same mission lives on in Dubai, with the race aiming to bridge the gap for women in the running world and give more ladies the chance to feel the high of crossing a finish line, perhaps for the very first time.

“Too many women have never had the opportunity to experience what happens when you leave your comfort zone, dig deep and cross that finish line,” said Hannah Hall, event marketing for Women’s Epic Arabia.

“Women’s Epic is proud to be changing that. We’re determined to empower women in the UAE to take their first step onto the trail and discover just how unstoppable they truly are,” she added.

This year’s event will offer accessible distances for all runners: A welcoming 1 km to get started, the adventurous 5 km and 10 km challenges, and a more trying 20 km race set for future editions on more demanding terrains. At the heart of the experience is the signature Women’s Epic Bell that runners ring at each milestone kilometer, marking their progress with sound and strength.

Eisa Sharif, director, events department at Dubai Sports Council, was thrilled to see Dubai once again at the forefront of a new initiative, especially for women. “We have been led by the vision of our benevolent leaders who have always been keen to encourage us toward fresh challenges. Having an event of this stature definitely raises the profile for women’s sports in Dubai, in the UAE and in the Middle East,” he said.

“Entries have been filling up as a brisk pace, and we are confident of a superb experience for all participants next month,” Sharif added.

After the race, participants can recharge at the Polynesian-inspired Lapita, Dubai Parks and Resorts, with access to its relaxing facilities and vibrant atmosphere. Family-friendly experiences (such as the Kids Club and Tiki House) and other wellness offerings are available for those staying at the resort. These experiences are available to all guests and are not tied to a specific offer for Women’s Epic participants.

Tania Carmona, Mexican ultrarunner, adventurer and Dubai-based writer, joins as one of the newest Women’s Epic Ambassadors. Carmona made history as the first Latin American and ninth woman in the world to complete the 5 Deserts Grand Slam Plus, conquering more than 1,250 km across five of the planet’s toughest deserts.

Joining her is Dr. Joyce Azzam, Lebanese mountaineer, motivational speaker, conservation architect and UN Women Goodwill ambassador. Azzam is the first Lebanese woman to climb the Seven Summits, including Mount Everest, and is the founder of the MounTurtle Mountaineering Academy.

Women’s Epic is also set to announce more events in the future, expanding the series and bringing fresh trails and challenges to women across the UAE.