You might try using my super-duper named capture variable module.

use Regexp::NamedCaptures;

if ( /^(?< \$number >\d+) (?:MatchMe \[(?< \$reason_why >.*)\]|I need 
+to be dispatched.*:\s(< \$reason_why >.*))$/ ) {
    # $reason_why got set from either $2 or $3 but we don't really car
+e about the numbered variables now.
    print "$number $reason_why\n";
}

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In reply to Re: multiple-line match mucking with regex registers by diotalevi
in thread multiple-line match mucking with regex registers by Voronich

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