Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a 22-yard pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striking the ball bowled at one of the wickets with the bat and then running between the wickets, while the bowling and fielding side tries to prevent this by preventing the ball from leaving the field and getting the ball to either wicket and dismissing each batter. Means of dismissal include being bowled, when the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, or by the fielding side either catching the ball after it is hit by the bat, but before it hits the ground, or hitting a wicket with the ball before a batter can cross the crease in front of the wicket.