Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell halted Australia's advance after a treble strike by Ryan Harris on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test at Chester-le-Street on Sunday.
At tea, England in their second innings were 123 for three, a far from decisive lead of 91 runs, with both Pietersen and Bell 37 not out having so far added an unbroken 74 for the fourth wicket.
England, who at 2-0 up in the five-match series had already retained the Ashes, were in dire straits at 49 for three as 33-year-old fast bowler Harris inflicted their latest top-order collapse this series.
Harris, playing a third straight match for just the second time in a 15-Test career plagued by injuries, took three wickets for 18 runs in 24 balls either side of lunch.
Before the interval, Harris bowled Joe Root (two) with a superb seaming delivery that clipped the top of off stump.
Soon afterwards, with conditions still overcast, he induced England captain Alastair Cook, on 22, into nicking a loose drive outside the left-hander's off-stump to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Jonathan Trott, with Australia captain Michael Clarke attempting to restrict his run-scoring by packing the on-side field, then gloved Harris and was well caught down the legside by a leaping Haddin for 23.
Pietersen, fresh from his 113 in the drawn third Test at Old Trafford, showed fellow South Africa-born batsman Trott how it should be done by pulling a short ball from Harris for four.
