Umpires failed to notice a strange incident with MS Dhoni that helped India beat Australia in the second ODI on Tuesday.

Another Virat Kohli masterclass and an ice-cool finish from Dhoni propelled India to a six-wicket win against Australia to square their limited overs series at one-all.

Chasing 299 runs to win at Adelaide Oval, Kohli struck a sublime 104 from 112 deliveries as India reached their target with just four balls remaining.

Kohli’s 39th ODI ton was followed by a typically composed finish from Dhoni (55 not out from 54 balls) as India set-up a series decider in Melbourne on Friday.

However a bizarre incident came to light late in the match when commentators noticed Dhoni had failed to complete what looked to be a regulation single.

On the final ball of the 45th over, Dhoni pushed the ball to long-on and trotted to the other end.

The umpire called the over complete and the match carried on, but Adam Gilchrist noticed that Dhoni never made it all the way to the crease at the non-striker’s end.

View photos MS Dhoni never completed the run. Image: Fox Sports More

It looked to be completely accidental as the Indian great failed to get his bat or feet over the crease, turning on his heel just short of the line and heading back to the middle of the pitch to chat to his batting partner.

Umpires were completely unaware of the technically illegal act, which should have resulted in India being docked one run.

There was no suggestion that Dhoni failed to make his ground intentionally – which can result in five penalty runs being taken from the batting side – but it was still a strange moment.

“I wonder if we’ll hear anything more about that should this match come down to the wire,” Gilchrist said at the time.

In the end it didn’t make a difference, with Dhoni getting his side home with four balls remaining.

Shaun Marsh ton goes in vain

The Indians eclipsed Australia’s 9-298 highlighted by Shaun Marsh’s 131 from 123 balls in temperatures peaking at more than 42 degrees.

Australia’s concerns grew over captain Aaron Finch’s form slump: he made just six and was bowled for the fifth time in his past eight ODI knocks before Marsh and Glenn Maxwell (48 from 37 balls) boosted Australia’s total.

Kohli then produced yet another gem and he’s now 10 tons shy of compatriot Sachin Tendulkar’s world record for most ODI centuries – Tendulkar made 49 in 463 ODIs while Kohli has played 218.

View photos Virat Kohli celebrates his century. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images) More

After Kohli’s dismissal in the 44th over left India needing 55 from the last six overs, his captaincy predecessor Dhoni nervelessly steered the tourists to their target.

Requiring seven runs from the final over from Jason Behrendorff, Dhoni smacked the first ball for six over long-on and pinched a single from the next.

Earlier, Australians Marsh and Maxwell – again batting at No.7 and arriving at the crease in the 38th over – put on 94 runs from 65 balls.

Marsh now has seven ODI centuries – and four of the past five by Australians.

But Finch’s torrid summer continued when he aimed a big drive at a Bhuvneshwar Kumar (4-45) delivery but edged onto his stumps.

Finch was axed from Australia’s Test team after making 97 runs at an average of 16.16 in the first three Tests of the just-completed series against India.

He was also bowled for six by Kumar in the ODI series-opener last Saturday and struggled as well in the ODI series last November against South Africa, making 57 runs in the three matches.

with AAP