Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood dug deep to break a stubborn stand, as Joe Root stalled Australia's push for an Ashes-retaining victory in Leeds.
England reached 156/3, chasing a target of 359, with the England captain, under immense pressure after his team were skittled for 67 on day two, produced an unbeaten captain's knock of 75 on day three of the third test.
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The Root-led rescue, which leaves his team 203 runs away from making history, started at 15/2, after Hazlewood and Pat Cummins quickly removed England's openers.
Root and Joe Denly (50) shared a 126-run partnership, raising the Headingley crowd's hopes of a series-levelling win for England.
A day after snaring 5/30, Hazlewood bent his back, firing in a pinpoint bouncer that Denly took his eyes off and gloved to Tim Paine.
Australia failed to conjure another wicket, as stump microphones picked up Paine's oohs, ahhs, encouragement and one expletive.
England have never hauled in a target higher than 332 to win a test, a record that will require something special to break, as Australia prepare to take the second new ball.
Only once has a team reeled in more than 342 to win a test in England. That was Don Bradman's 1948 Ashes tourists, who sealed their invincible reputation by completing a successful chase of 404, thanks to the captain's unbeaten 173 on day five.
That match was also at Headingley, no other parallels can be drawn, especially after England lost 10/57 in 24 overs during their first dig.
But Root refused to fold meekly, as Paine pressed for a victory that would ensure he captained Australia's first squad to retain the Ashes in England since 2001.
Ben Stokes, who followed up his Lord's ton with an embarrassingly loose dismissal in England's first-innings calamity, survived a tense burst late in the day and will resume on two.
Some 33 wickets have fallen in three days and rain is not expected to interrupt the rest of the contest, essentially taking the draw out of the equation.
That also means the hosts are enjoying ideal batting conditions, relative to day five.
Paine has already burned one of his two reviews on a Nathan Lyon leg-before-wicket shout, adding another layer of drama on a day when Hazlewood gave Root some unsolicited advice, after twice beating the bat.
Paine threw the ball to Lyon after just three overs, while Marnus Labuschagne delivered five overs of leg-spin, after top-scoring with 80 to drag Australia to a second-innings total of 246.
Lyon struggled early in the final session, but created some effective dot-ball pressure, alongside Hazlewood, to end Denly's resistance.
Denly looked unconvincing early, especially when a short ball from Cummins clattered the helmet, but settled to extend a test career that was at the crossroads.
Root was a picture of composure, as he built belief in England's dressing room.
The 28-year-old was trapped lbw on 59 by Hazlewood, but instantly reviewed Chris Gaffaney's onfield verdict, with replays showing a clear edge onto the pads.
AAP
