Headingley, August 26: England captain Nasser Hussain's 12th Test hundred could not prevent his side going down to defeat by an innings and 46 runs against India on the final day of the third Test here at Headingley on Monday.

The result meant India, who piled up 628 for eight declared - their highest total against England and best overseas - levelled the four-match series at one apiece.

Hussain's departure for 110 sparked a collapse that saw England lose three batsmen for two runs in 10 balls.

The last thing England needed was a run-out but that is what they got. Alex Tudor pushed the ball to mid-on for what should have been a comfortable single but he stayed put and sent back Ashley Giles.

However, India captain Sourav Ganguly's throw from midwicket went straight to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh at the bowler's end and Giles was run out for 10.

And when Tudor (21) gave Virender Sehwag, at short leg, his sixth catch off the match, off Harbhajan, England had lost five wickets for 42 runs to be 307 for nine.

England resumed on 239 for four off 86 overs, still 116 behind with Madras-born Hussain 90 not out and Stewart 40 not out,

In the first over of an overcast morning Hussain cover-drove fiery left-armer Zaheer Khan for four. And when Zaheer, in his next over, bowled a bouncer, Hussain confidently hooked him for four to go to 99.

That stroke also brought up a century stand with Stewart from 247 balls that had rescued England from the depths of 148 for four and the prospect of a defeat inside four days.

Hussain then turned Zaheer off his legs to bring up a gritty century off 184 balls including one six and 16 boundaries in an innings that had then lasted four hours 12 minutes.

It was his twelfth Test hundred in his 75th match, his fifth as captain and his fourth against India.

But the switch from pace to spin brought better news for India. To leg-spinner Anil Kumble's sixth ball of the day, in the seventh over of the morning, Hussain was brilliantly caught by the diving Virender Sehwag at short leg for 110.

Hussain had faced 194 balls in nearly four-and-a-half hours, putting on 117 in 46 overs with Stewart.

England were now 265 for five but that quickly became 267 for seven. New batsman Andrew Flintoff, in on a pair, had never made a run at Headingley in his three previous Test innings here.

And his dreadful run continued when he went for another nought, edging the first legitimate ball he received from Zaheer straight to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Worse followed for England when Stewart (47), their last remaining front-line batsmen, pushed out to Kumble and Dravid took another slip catch.

It was a fine all-round effort from Dravid whose 148, made in conditions friendly to seam bowlers after he came in at 15 for one, anchored India's innings and saw him named man-of-the-match.

Stewart had faced 135 balls including seven fours during his three-and-a quarter hour stay.

But India were now well on their way to victory and both their spinners will look forward to playing at The Oval, where the pitches have plenty of turn, when the final Test starts there on September 5.

India have not won a Test series outside of the sub-continent in 16 years since a 2-0 triumph over England in 1986.