Australia's Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie leave the field after winning the first Test

Australia won by three wickets to save themselves from embarrassment against the world's worst Test team.

Ponting, who hit his 31st Test century, said: "Yes, it was a sigh of relief. It has been a good win."

He praised Bangladesh for putting up a good fight adding: "Bangladesh played excellent cricket. They can take inspiration from the match."

Australia needed 95 runs to win and had six wickets in hand at the start of the final day's play.

Day five match report

But they lost three wickets in the morning session before Ponting and Jason Gillespie saw them home.

Ponting added: "This match is another example that the team is capable of coming out of any trouble. It was a very, very good Test match."

Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar said he was proud of his team for running the world champions so close.

This was only their third Test against Australia and the previous two had ended in innings defeats.

Bashar said: "I am satisfied that we could push the world champions into fifth day and that was our moral victory.

"We are very much happy."

The second and final Test begins in Chittagong on Sunday.