Australia was on course for a consolation victory in the fifth Ashes test after reducing England to 107-8 Friday in 40 overs on the second day at The Oval, with another batting collapse in a wildly unpredictable series.
Steven Smith's 143 — his 11th test century — underpinned Australia's first-innings total of 481 before the tourists' bowlers ripped through the England batting lineup.
After Alastair Cook (22) was bowled by a beauty from offspinner Nathan lyon off the last ball before tea, Adam lyth's demise for 19 sparked a collapse from 46-1 to 92-8 in just 23 overs.
Mitchell Marsh took 3-18 and Peter Siddle's first bowl of the series returned the paceman figures of 2-18. England, which has already won the series to regain the urn, trails by 374.
Earlier, Steven Smith scored his second hundred of the series as Australia continued to build a strong position.
Australia may have lost the Ashes, at 3-1 down in a five-match series, but captain-elect Smith's unbeaten 110 saw his side to 376 for seven at lunch on the second day.
They would have been in an even stronger position but for off-spinner Moeen Ali taking two wickets in three balls in what became the last over of the session to dismiss Peter Nevill (18) and Mitchell Johnson (nought).
This was the 26-year-old Smith's 11th hundred in 33 Tests and his second this series after he made a career-best 215 in Australia's 405-run win in the second Test at lord's.
But he would have been out caught behind on 92 had it not been for a Steven Finn no-ball. Australia resumed on 287 for three, a vastly improved batting display after they were shot out for 60 on the first morning of the fourth Test at Nottingham's Trent Bridge — a match they lost by an innings and 78 runs as England regained the Ashes.
Smith was 78 not out overnight and Adam Voges unbeaten on 47, with their stand then worth 101.
Brief Scores
Aus: 481 (Smith 143; Finn 3/90) lead Eng: 107/8 (Cook 22; Marsh 3/18, Siddle 2/18) by 375 runs.