Photographs: REUTERS/Darren Staples
Ian Bell made 109 and Stuart Broad 65 before England were bowled out for 375 in their second innings on the fourth day of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
That left Australia needing 311 runs for a win.
Australia reached 174-6 in their second innings at the close.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Broad made a composed half century
Image: England's Stuart Broad (centre) is caught out by Australia's Brad Haddin during the fourth dayPhotographs: REUTERS/Darren Staples
Bell and Broad, resuming on 326 for six, quickly reached the individual milestones their tenacious partnership deserved.
Mitchell Starc got Australia's day off to a bad start with a wild beamer which went through first slip to the boundary and Broad slashed James Pattinson for four to get to fifty.
The seventh-wicket partnership of 138 ended when Broad edged Pattinson through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
The England fast bowler walked straight off to ironic cheers after the controversial incident on Friday when he edged Ashton Agar to slip and stayed at the wicket having being given not out by the umpire.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Bell posted his 18th Test century
Image: Ian Bell of England walks back to the pavilion after scoring 109 runsPhotographs: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Bell pushed Starc for a single to post his 18th Test century, a marathon effort of intense concentration lasting more than six hours.
Bell, often criticised for failing to deliver under pressure, leapt up and punched the air after completing his run before raising his bat to all sides of the ground.
Bell drove Starc to the cover boundary and chopped his next ball for four but he nicked a fine delivery from Starc through to Haddin and left the field to a standing ovation.
He faced 267 balls, hit 15 fours and batted for six and a half hours in an innings which put England firmly in control of the match.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Siddle picked up three wickets
Image: Peter Siddle of Australia celebrates taking the wicket of Graeme Swann of EnglandPhotographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Australia wrapped up the England tail quickly.
Graeme Swann, on nine, edged Peter Siddle to Michael Clarke at slip and James Anderson lasted only two balls before he was caught by Phil Hughes at mid-wicket off the persevering Siddle.
Siddle was Australia's best bowler for the match, with figures of three for 85.
He swelled his tally to eight for the match following his five-wicket haul in the England first innings.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Watson, Rogers added 84 runs
Image: Shane Watson and Chris Rogers of AustraliaPhotographs: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Shane Watson shared a solid opening partnership of 84 with Chris Rogers to give the touring side a good start in their bid to score 311 runs for victory.
But he perished immediately after the drinks break for 46, trapped lbw by a full-length delivery from Stuart Broad.
Cowan fell to part-time spinner Joe Root just before the interval
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Broad picked up two wickets
Image: Stuart Broad of England celebrates the wicket of Michael Clarke of AustraliaPhotographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Stuart Broad made two crucial breakthroughs for England.
Besides, having Watson out, he also had Michael Clarke (23) caught behind, the latter being a vital blow to the visitor's prospects.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Captain Clarke managed only 23
Image: Michael Clarke of Australia walks back after being dismissed by Stuart Broad of EnglandPhotographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Phil Hughes in quick succession to tilt an extraordinary match back England's way.
Clarke and Smith dug in as the tension mounted and survived a couple of huge appeals before the skipper, on 23, feathered Broad through to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
The umpire checked to see whether the ball had carried and Clarke then referred the decision, only for it to be confirmed by the television official.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Anderson accounted for Rogers
Image: James Anderson of England celebrates the wicket of Chris Rogers of AustraliaPhotographs: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
James Anderson, who picked up five wickets in the first innings, picked up a vital one in the second innings.
Rogers, on 52, tried to work Anderson through the leg side and chipped a simple catch to Bell at mid-wicket.
Ashes PHOTOS, Day 4: Swann picked up two late wickets
Image: Graeme Swann of England celebrates the wicket of Phil Hughes of Australia with team matesPhotographs: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
With the crowd still celebrating, Smith was trapped lbw for 17 by Swann and three runs later the England off-spinner removed Hughes for a duck in identical fashion.
Swann had figures of two for 64 in the day.
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