LEEDS: Joe Root marked his first one-day international at his Yorkshire home ground with a century as England tried to avoid a series whitewash against India at Headingley on Friday.
Root's 113 was the cornerstone of England's 294 for seven.
World champions India had already won the series by going 3-0 up and it seemed they would restrict England to another meagre total when the hosts slumped to 117 for four off 29 overs after losing the toss.
But Root and Jos Buttler (49) repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket partnership of 108 and England's bowlers had even more of a target to defend thanks to recalled all-rounder Ben Stokes's unbeaten 33.
For England, it was initially an all-too-familiar story as India's pacemen make early breakthroughs.
The runs then dried up against India's spinners as wickets continued to fall.
England found themselves 39 for two off seven overs.
Alex Hales mistimed a pull off recalled paceman Umesh Yadav and holed out to midwicket for four.
Moeen Ali had been promoted to number three after making 67 at number seven in a nine-wicket thrashing by India at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
But left-hander Ali exited for nine when he sliced a wide length ball from Kumar to Yadav at third man.
Under-pressure England captain Alastair Cook, trying to break the shackles, made 46 before he top-edged a sweep against off-spinner Suresh Raina and was caught by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Dhoni then stumped Cook's fellow left-hander Eoin Morgan (14) off Ravichandran Ashwin's off-spin.
But the re-introduction of Yadav saw Buttler uppercut him for six.
Buttler also pulled Ashwin for six and Root hoisted left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja over long-on for a six of his own.
England at last enjoyed a productive batting powerplay, scoring 55 runs for no wickets in five overs.
But Buttler fell when, having survived an lbw appeal, he set off for a non-existent single and was run out by opposing 'keeper Dhoni.
Root, though, slog-swept Jadeja -- whose nine overs cost 66 runs -- for six to complete a 105-ball century.
But Root's second and highest hundred in 36 ODIS ended when an intended 'ramp' off Mohammed Shami was caught by Ashwin at short fine leg.
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