Here is a regex solution. I have provided several test cases which are intended to help you specify your real requirements. (The 'description' field tells what is special about each string.) I have assumed that by 'number', you mean 'unsigned integer'. 
use strict;
use warnings;
use Test::Simple tests=>7;

my $NUMBER = qr/[1-9]\d*/;   # Unsigned integer
sub solution {
    return $_[0] =~ s! ($NUMBER:$NUMBER): !$1//!xr;
}

my @test_cases = (
    #given            expected         description
    ['3:4:',         '3:4//',         'minimal'],
    ['3:4:5:',       '3:4//5:',       'begining of string'],
    ['foo:fum3:4:',  'foo:fum3:4//',  'end of string'],
    ['3456:7890:5:', '3456:7890//5:', 'big integers'],
    ['a:b:',         'a:b:',          'no number'],
    ['3:4foo:',      '3:4foo:',       'misplaced colon'],
    ['3456:0890:a:', '3456:0890:a:',  'invalid integer'],
);


foreach my $case (@test_cases) {
    my ($given, $expected, $description) = @$case;
    my $computed  = solution($given);
    ok( $computed eq $expected, $description);
}

[download]

OUTPUT,

1..7
ok 1 - minimal
ok 2 - begining of string
ok 3 - end of string
ok 4 - big integers
ok 5 - no number
ok 6 - misplaced colon
ok 7 - invalid integer

[download]

I encourage you to modify this solution and/or list of test cases as your requirements evolve.

Bill

In reply to Re: Breaking symmetry with a regex by BillKSmith
in thread Breaking symmetry with a regex by Anonymous Monk

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