JOIN USEngland in total command
Pietersen added the final flourish to a magisterial double hundred in the morning sun before he was dismissed for 227 as England accumulated a huge first inning total of 620 for five declared. He then returned in the gloaming to remove vice-captain Michael Clarke with the last ball of the day for 80.
Australia go into the final day on 238 for four with their last two recognised batsmen at the crease and 137 needed to make England bat again.
Their main hope of forcing a draw is the weather with heavy storms forecast. Rain stopped play for just under an hour in the third session on Monday.
Graeme Swann, the world's top-ranked spinner, took two wickets including Ricky Ponting for nine following the Australian captain's first ball duck in the first innnings.
Pietersen then accounted for Clarke with his part-time off-spin.
“It's a massive bonus for us,” Swann said. “Sometimes you need a bit of inspiration and who better to deliver it than KP?
“We love KP, especially when he's got a double century and gets their best player of spin out.”
Mike Hussey and Clarke fought a desperate rearguard action for the hosts throughout the latter part of the rain-disrupted third session and the pair looked set to resume their partnership on the final day until Pietersen came on to bowl.
Clarke, who had made a solid 80, initially walked when Alastair Cook took the catch at short-leg but returned to his crease when the umpire failed to give him out.
England requested a review and, to the delight of the massed ranks of the ‘Barmy Army’ on the grass bank under the scoreboard, Clarke was walking again when the pictures clearly showed the ball hit the face of his bat.
Hussey, who will resume on 44 not out alongside Marcus North in the morning, said it had been a big psychological blow for a team already reeling after being outplayed for four days.
England added 69 runs in nine overs in the morning session with Ian Bell hitting a sublime six on his way to 68 not out and Matt Prior adding an unbeaten 27 after being saved from an lbw dismissal by a television review.
Shane Watson and Simon Katich steered Australia safely through to lunch before off-spinner Swann struck after the break.
Katich (43), who had hobbled throughout his innings because of an Achilles heel injury and who now is a major doubt for the third Test in Perth, got a faint outside edge which wicketkeeper Matt Prior snaffled.