The Ashes series finally showed signs of being contested after a defiant rearguard action from Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen breathed life into what had been a one-way affair. But England still require something special to salvage a draw on the final day at the Gabba.

They finished day four at 293 for five -still requiring 355 for an unlikely victory.

Australia batted on for only a further five overs, declaring at 202 for one after Justin Langer had posted a well-earned century. It left  the tourists the near-impossible target of 648 for victory - but, more important, just under two full days of play to bat through for a draw.

England were in trouble early when Andrew Strauss was again undone hooking, this time skying a catch in the deep to substitute Ryan Broad, who was on the field in place of Ricky Ponting. The Australian captain had felt a twinge in his back while batting in the morning and did not return to the field after the declaration, Adam Gilchrist handling the captaincy duties.

Ian Bell, England’s road-block in the first innings, couldn’t provide a repeat performance - lasting only four balls before becoming Shane Warne’s first scalp of the match.

England were in a precarious position at 91 for three when young opener Alastair Cook’s fine edge bobbed up for Mike Hussey at bat-pad - brigning Kevin Pietersen to the crease.

KP and Collingwood then combined for a stunning counter-attacking 153-run partnership. The pair were not prepared to bunker down and just eat away the clock. Instead, they launched their own offensive on the Australian attack, finally bringing the Barmy Army into full voice.

South African-born Pietersen was at time brutal on the frustrated bowlers, digging deep into his bag of tricks with some creative and hard-hitting stroke play. His battle with Warne was a classic encounter of bat versus ball, Warne regularly changing his tactics and line of attack, even reverting to around the wicket in an attempt to find a chink in KP's armour. All too often for Warne, though, his attempts resulted in a Pietersen boundary.

Warne and Pietersen might be mates off the field but no love was lost between the pair on it -  the two exchanging angry glares and verbal volleys on a number of occasions.

Warne wasn’t the only bowler in Pietersen’s sights, with first-innings destroyer Glenn McGrath also on the receiving end of some heavy treatment. At one stag, Pietersen hammered McGrath for two consecutive boundaries through the covers. He also had the audacity to walk down the wicket at McGrath on a number of occasions.

Collingwood, while not as spectacular as Pietersen, was just as effective with his 96. While a little shaky at the start, he relished having KP at the other end and started to free up himself, hitting both Brett Lee and Warne for six.

Collingwood had coasted to the “nervous nineties” but started to tighten up as he neared his century. Sensing this, the Australians laid a beautiful trap, increasing pressure around the bat but leaving inviting gaps on the offside, encouraging Collingwood to play for the boundary.

The Durham batsman accepted this invitation but was completely outsmarted by Warne, dancing down the wicket but missing the leg break and giving Gilchrist an easy stumping.

Warne claimed his fourth wicket late in the day when Andrew Flintoff skied a mistimed pull, the ball sailing through to a joyous Langer.

Despite the entertaining defiance shown by the tourists, England still face a mammoth task to fight for the draw with only Pietersen, who needs eight for his century, Geraint Jones and the tail left.