England have finished on 294-7 on day three of the third Ashes Test against Australia at Old Trafford.
The hosts, who trail by 233 runs, are chasing a target of 328 to avoid the follow-on after Australia declared on 527-7.
England lost Alastair Cook (62) and Jonathan Trott (5) during a tense morning session to leave themselves on 119-4.
However, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell made steady progress in the afternoon to edge England closer to their target.
Both men reached their half-centuries, but it was Bell who was first to go when he was dismissed for 60 off the bowling of Ryan Harris.
Pietersen soon made his way past 100, but he did not last too much longer at the crease as he was dismissed lbw by Mitchell Starc for 113 to put England on 280-6.
Starc struck again when he sent Jonny Bairstow (22) on his way, but Stuart Broad (nine not out) and Matt Prior (six not out) refused to budge and will start out in the middle on Sunday.
