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 7-294.
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 4-117 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 2-39 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.