Steve Smith scored a fine 71 as Australia took a slender lead of 12 runs at the end of the day 2 of the fifth and final test at The Oval on Friday.
Resuming at 61/1, the overnight pair of Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne added 30 more runs before the latter fell to a brilliant one handed catch by Joe Root at first slip off Mark Wood for 9.
Khawaja looked solid during his knock of 47, before being trapped leg before wicket by Stuart Broad. Travis Head then edged a delivery from Broad to wicket keeper Bairstow behind the stumps for 4.
Steve Smith along with Mitchell Marsh added 24 runs for the fifth wicket before the latter chopped a length delivery from James Anderson on to his stumps for 16.
Alex Carey then fell to a catch at short cover by skipper Ben Stokes off Joe Root for 10. The visitors slumped even further when Mitchell Starc (7) miscued a pull off Mark Wood to Ben Duckett leaving them in huge trouble at 185/7.
Smith featured in yet another crucial 54 run stand for the eight wicket alongside Pat Cummins before the former top edged a flick off Chris Woakes to Bairstow behind the stumps for a well made 71.
Todd Murphy scored a crucial 34 before being trapped leg before wicket by Woakes.
Cummins then fell to a brilliant catch in the boundary by Stokes as Australia were bowled out for 295, with an overall lead of 12.
Stumps at the end of Day 2
Australia 295 (Smith 71, Woakes 3-61) lead England 283 by 12 runs