Joe Root Ton Sees England Avoid India Whitewash

Joe Root's hundred in his first one-day international at his Yorkshire home ground laid the platform for England's much-needed 41-run win over India at Headingley on Friday. (SCORECARD)

India still won the series 3-1 but England's victory in the finale meant they avoided being whitewashed by the world champions. (Match Images | Highlights)

Root's 113 was the cornerstone of England's 294 for seven -- their best ODI total of the season and a vast improvement on their 206 all out in a nine-wicket defeat by India at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

India faltered in their pursuit of 295, with Ravindra Jadeja's dashing 87 at number seven too late to turn the tide.

It seemed India would restrict England to another meagre total when the hosts slumped to 117 for four off 29 overs after losing the toss. (Soft Dismissals Cost India: Dhoni)

But Root, who became the first Yorkshireman to score an ODI hundred at Headingley, and Jos Buttler (49) repaired the damage with a fifth-wicket partnership of 108.

Recalled all-rounder Ben Stokes then chipped in with an unbeaten 33 as England's bowlers were at last given some runs to play with.

For England, it was initially an all-too-familiar story as India's pacemen make early breakthroughs before wickets fell to the spinners while runs dried up.

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 first-wicket down after making 67 at number seven at Edgbaston.

But the left-hander exited for nine when he sliced a wide length ball from Bhuvneshwar 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 Eoin Morgan (14) off Ravichandran Ashwin's off-spin.

But the re-introduction of pace saw Buttler uppercut Yadav 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 he set off for a non-existent single and was run out by Dhoni.

Man-of-the-match Root, though, slog-swept Jadeja 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 went straight to Ashwin at short fine leg.

Rahane duck

India's run-chase started badly when they lost Ajinkya Rahane, who made a maiden ODI hundred at Edgbaston, for a third ball duck when he steered James Anderson's outswinger straight to Morgan at point.

Virat Kohli's miserable tour continued when, on 13, he was squared up by Anderson, who took an economical two for 39, and edged to Cook at slip.

But Shikhar Dhawan, who made an unbeaten 97 at Edgbaston, swept off-spinner Ali for six.

But, trying to repeat the shot, he was bowled three balls later by Ali for 31.

India could have lost two wickets in the next over but fast bowler Steven Finn saw Chris Woakes at third man drop Ambati Rayudu on six and Cook fail to hold a slip catch when Raina had made just one.

Rayudu responded with a straight six off Ali.

But man-of-the-series Raina fell for 18 when, trying to cut Ali, he was caught behind by wicketkeeper Buttler.

Rayudu completed a second successive fifty before, on 53, he saw an ugly swipe off Stokes lob to Cook at mid-on.

And India's victory hopes all but evaporated when dangerman Dhoni, on 29, somehow cut a wide Finn delivery low to Stokes at point.

That left India 173 for six in the 37th over.

Jadeja hit freely, making all the runs in a last wicket stand of 44, before playing on to the persevering Finn as England won with eight balls to spare.