An umpiring error cost Sachin Tendulkar his 38th Test century as India piled on the runs against England on Day 3 of the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Sunday.
India were all out for 481, but that total would have been still better had Tendulkar, on 91, not been given out leg before wicket by Australian umpire Simon Taufel.
Television replays and Hawkeye indicated that the ball would have missed the off-stump by a distance.
Taufel, who was rated the world's best umpire for the last three years, also erred with the dismissal of Ganguly, ruling the left-handed caught behind down the leg side when the bat made no contact with the ball.
VVS Laxman scored some useful runs with the tailenders before falling for 54 as the Indian innings folded soon thereafter.
England, in their second innings, were 43 without loss at close of play.
Openers Dinesh Karthik (77) and Wasim Jaffer (62) had scored half-centuries on the second day, adding 147 runs for the opening wicket, to give India a fine start.
England were bowled out for 198 in their first innings, Zaheer Khan claiming four wickets for 59 runs.
Morning session: (84 runs, 28 overs, no wickets)
England took the new ball in the second over of the day, looking to make early inroads into the Indian batting. Resuming the day at 254 for 3, a lead of 56 runs, India's plan was clear: avoid any early wickets and bat through the day.
Ryan Sidebottom had a huge leg before wicket appeal against Ganguly turned down in the second over, but in the 86th over of the innings, he went after Chris Tremlett, creaming a boundary through the off-side and then pulling him over the midwicket boundary for a six.
At the other end, Tendulkar was up against a tough spell from Sidebottom. The master batsman was required to draw on all his experience. Sidebottom probed the batsman quite well, getting him to play and miss a few times.
In fact, Sidebottom, at times, seemed unplayable. He bowled nine overs in his first spell of the day, which had six maidens, and conceded just seven runs. Of those overs, the first was bowled to Ganguly, but the rest were to Tendulkar. Those eight overs were a testing time for the ace batsman.
There were countless deliveries in that spell when Tendulkar seemed lost, but he still hung on. It was an intelligent display of batting from the veteran. He knew Sidebottom is England's best bowler and they once saw him off things would get easier.
Monty Panesar was introduced into the attack in the 98th over of the innings and Ganguly welcomed him with two cracking boundaries through the cover region. Then, in his next over, Panesar had a huge leg before appeal turned down against Tendulkar as the batsman attempted a paddle shot. As if to make up for that horrible shot, Tendulkar smashed Panesar through the off-side off the next delivery.
In the next over, he stepped down the wicket and smashed Panesar over cover for his 11th boundary to move to 84.
Ganguly, meanwhile, cruised to his half-century off 84 deliveries. It was his 28th half-century in Tests, his third at this venue, and, importantly, he was looking quite comfortable as India looked for a huge first innings score.
At the lunch break, India were 338 for 3, their overall lead 140 runs, with seven wickets still in hand. Tendulkar was unbeaten on 87 off 191 deliveries, inclusive of 11 boundaries, and on course to his 38th Test century.
Ganguly looked at ease as he raced to 53 off 98 deliveries, including eight boundaries and a huge six off Tremlett.
None of England's bowlers were able to make an impression on the two veteran batsmen. Sidebottom, though, was a revelation and should consider himself unlucky in not taking a wicket as he beat Tendulkar many times during his spell in the morning.
It is a sunny day at Trent Bridge and India will be hoping to accelerate in the next two sessions and try and cross the 500 mark to ensure that they do not need to bat again in this match.
Post-lunch session: (81 runs, 3 wickets, 29 overs)
India were dealt a big blow in the first over after lunch when Tendulkar was ruled out leg before wicket for 91.
The master batsman took a big stride outside the off-stump, but offered no shot to a gentle medium pace delivery from Collingwood. The England players appealed and, to everyone's horror, umpire Simon Taufel declared him out, catching even Tendulkar by surprise.
It must be said that it was one of the worst leg before decisions ever given.
Even television replays and Hawkeye confirmed that the ball would have missed the off-stump by a distance.
Nevertheless, it was a great knock from Tendulkar. He hit 12 boundaries in his 197-ball essay, and it was a pity that he had to be 'dismissed' just when he looked set for a hundred.
He added 96 runs for the fourth wicket with Ganguly, helping India extend their hold on the match.
V V S Laxman was very cautious at the start but once he got his eye in, he unleashed a couple of sweetly-timed boundaries through the off-side.
On the other hand, Ganguly, looked solid and kept the scoreboard ticking.
India crossed the 400-run mark in the 128th over, when Laxman glided one over the slips for a boundary.
As if the glaring error in Tendulkar's dismissal was not enough, Taufel fouled up again when he gave Ganguly out, caught behind down the leg side. It was no surprise to see the left-hander make his disappointment known.
Closer looks at replays indicated that Ganguly did not get an edge. He walked back an angry man after scoring 79. He hit 10 boundaries and a six in his 156-ball knock.
Sidebottom then got the key wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, caught behind for 5. The left-arm seamer got lucky when his delivery finally took the edge of the bat after missing it many times earlier in the day.
With two quick wickets in the space of five overs, England finally had something to smile about.
Once again Laxman was left with the difficult task of nursing the tail while ensuring that he got runs on his own too.
At the tea break, India had reached 419 for 6 in 136 overs, with Laxman unbeaten on 37 from 100 deliveries.
It was a session that should have belonged to India, but was otherwise ruined by a couple of poor umpiring decisions from Taufel. England have an opportunity to claw back if they can finish off the tail soon, but, then, India already have a lead of over 200.
Post-tea session: (107 runs, 38.5 overs, 4 wickets)
After tea, India made steady progress as Laxman and Anil Kumble held steady. Laxman reached his half-century off 122 deliveries, inclusive of seven boundaries, but the important thing was that he was still there in the middle.
Kumble brought all his experience into play and settled down nicely. He ensured that he not only stayed at the wicket, but also scored some useful runs. He hit four boundaries as he reached 21 from 48 deliveries while Laxman looked assured on 54 at the other end.
Laxman, however, did not last long as he was caught behind off Tremlett for 54. He added 50 runs for the seventh wicket with Kumble as India extended their lead after tea.
Kumble seemed determined to score some quick runs; he charged down the wicket and lofted Panesar over mid-on in the 155th over of the innings, but fell in the next over when Tremlett's perfectly pitched out-swinger took the edge of his bat straight to the wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
Kumble was out for 30, having hit six boundaries in his 65-ball knock as India were reduced to 473 for 8, a 275-run lead.
As expected, England took no time cleaning up India's tailenders. R P Singh was dismissed leg before wicket for no score and become Panesar's third victim of the innings.
Panesar then got another leg before wicket decision when S Sreesanth offered no shot and was struck just outside off-stump, but was judged out for 2.
Zaheer finished unbeaten on 10 as India were bowled out for 481 in 158.5 vers, taking a first innings lead of 283 runs.
Panesar was the most successful England bowler, taking 4 for 101 in 33.5 overs. Tremlett impressed late in the innings as he took 3 for 80.
Sidebottom also bowled well, even though he managed just one wicket for 75 runs.
It couldn't have been better for India. As many as five batsman got half-centuries. They would have ideally loved to score more runs, but then even such a big lead should be enough. Kumble surely will have a bigger role to play in England's second innings.
England innings:
Sreesanth took the new ball, with 16 overs left in the day, but yet again he struggled to control his line and length. He just bowled two overs, giving away nine runs before giving way to R P Singh. Quite often in the two matches he drifted on to the batsman's pads, especially with the new ball.
Anil Kumble was introduced in the 11th over of the innings after the pacers failed to make a breakthrough.
It was quite a contrast for the pacers as the pitch now looked very good for batting, unlike the first innings when they made the English batsmen dance to their tunes.
At close on the third day, England reached 43 for no loss, still trailing India by 240 runs. Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 21, while Alastair Cook was not out on 17.