Joe Root's typically composed 99 not out steered jittery England to a four-wicket win over India in the second one-day international in Cardiff on Thursday that levelled this three-match series at 1-1.
Root walked out to bat with England 0-1 after Ben Duckett was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah from the first ball of the innings.
England were 8-2 when Jacob Bethell nicked a rising delivery from Prasidh Krishna to wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, a replacement for the ill KL Rahul, before skipper Harry Brook fell to a skittish scoop.
Root, not for the first time in his long career, led an England revival as they chased down a modest target of 234 with 35 balls remaining to turn Sunday's finale at Lord's into a series decider.
The former England captain faced 133 balls, including nine fours, and was only denied what would have been his 21st ODI century when the recalled Gus Atkinson, riding his luck with a few streaky shots, pulled Prasidh Krishna for four.
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"In those conditions, on that pitch, to be there at the end and get the job done is probably the best feeling you can get in cricket," Root, the player of the match, told Sky Sports. "(I was left on 99) but that is not what you play for.
"You play to win games and this series is very much alive," added the 35-year-old after England arrived in Wales on a run of 14 defeats in their previous 20 ODIs.
'WIN SCRAPPY AND UGLY'
"Sometimes you need to win scrappy and ugly and we now go to Lord's with everything to play for," said Root, who also praised England's revamped attack for restricting India to 233 all out.
England were 8-2 when Jacob Bethell nicked a rising delivery from Krishna to wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan before captain Harry Brook fell to a skittish scoop.
When Sam Curran (22) was excellently taken standing up to the stumps by Kishan – the stand-in's fourth catch – off Shivam Dube, England were faltering at 94-4.
But Root completed a 76-ball fifty– his second half-century in three days following his 76 not out in a six-wicket India win in Tuesday's series opener at Edgbaston.
Fellow veteran Jos Buttler fell for just 17, clean bowled trying to drive left-arm spinner Axar Patel.
Root needed a reliable ally and it seemed he had found one in Will Jacks.
But having made 30, Jacks inexplicably backed away to leg and slapped paceman Gurnoor Brar straight to extra cover.
Root threw his head back in anguish as India gained renewed hope with England 197-6 off 40 overs.
Earlier, Jofra Archer led an improved England bowling display, the express quick taking 3-47 after Brook won the toss.
India looked set for a score in excess of 300 when Virat Kohli (65) and Shreyas Iyer (66) were at the crease together.
But a revamped England attack used the short ball to good effect to seize back the initiative at a sun-drenched Sophia Gardens.
India, who had been 178-3, lost their last seven wickets for 55 runs – including a mini collapse of 4-15 – as they were all out with six overs remaining.
"It was quite disappointing," said India captain Shubman Gill, dismissed for 31 on Thursday following his 80 at Edgbaston.
"We thought 300, 310 would be a good total after 25 overs but we lost too many wickets in the middle overs."
Fast bowler Archer took 3-47 from his 10 overs after Brook won the toss, with Atkinson and Saqib Mahmood recalled to bolster England's seam-bowling options.
India captain Shubman Gill, fresh from his 80 at Edgbaston, fell for 31 when he drove Atkinson to cover.
Kohli has already retired from test and T20 international cricket and this series could be the last time the legendary 37-year-old represents India in Britain.
He showed his class by straight-driving Curran for four to bring up a run-a-ball fifty as chants of "Kohli, Kohli, Kohli" echoed round the ground.
Iyer was dropped on 25 and soon afterwards, he drove leg-spinner Adil Rashid for a soaring straight six.
England dismissed Kohli when a top edge off Archer flew to Rashid at third man before Archer struck with successive deliveries to reduce India to 193-7.
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ENGLAND: Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Joe Root, Jos Buttler (wkt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood
INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (capt), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wkt), Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Gurnoor Brar, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna