Cricket: Wicket-keeper Matt Prior produced a belligerent century to ensure England saved the series-deciding third test against New Zealand at Eden Park yesterday, despite Kane Williamson taking two late wickets that almost snatched victory for the hosts. Prior (110 not out) took up the responsibility of seeing the tourists home after Ian Bell had defied New Zealand for almost six hours, as England finished on 315 for nine, after they had given up chasing the 481 needed for victory on the fourth day. With England looking comfortable in the final hour, Williamson grabbed two wickets in three balls to bring Monty Panesar to the crease but the spinner and Prior saw out the final 19 deliveries to ensure the series was drawn 0-0.

Basket, NBA: LeBron James had 24 points and was a rebound shy of a triple-double as Miami Heat used a fourth quarter surge to put away the Orlando Magic 108-94 and extend their winning streak to 27 games on Monday. Tied 68-68 near the end of the third quarter, the Heat, powered by a 20-2 run, blasted clear of the gritty Magic to move within six of the Los Angeles Lakers’ record of 33 successive wins set in the 1971-72 season. After back-to-back games against the NBA's two bottom feeders, Charlotte and Orlando, the Heat's road to the record could get a little bumpier with the Chicago Bulls, New Orleans and Western con-ference-leading San Antonio Spurs on deck to close out March.

Winter Games: Next year’s Academy Awards ceremony will be held on March 2, a week later than normal, so as not to clash with the Winter Olympics in Russia in February. The Winter Olympics are to be held in Sochi, Russia, from Feb. 7-23, forcing several of Holly-wood’s big awards shows to shift their traditional dates to avoid a clash with blanket TV coverage of the games. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars, has shifted its awards ceremony in the past to avoid competition from the Winter Olympics. The Games will be broadcast in the US by NBC.