Tight bowling from the Hampshire attack, led by Scott Currie (5-34), and a disciplined display in the field looked to be sending the cup to the south coast.
But Brookes hit four sixes and five fours to turn the game before Matt Waite’s five-ball cameo of 16 took them across the line.
“We’ve seen it the majority of the time he’s been with us in white-ball cricket and red-ball cricket that he can change games, he can win us games,” said Worcestershire head coach Alan Richardson.
“He’s one of those batters that we’re all on the balcony waiting for him to do something. It was an awesome effort.”
Libby added: “It was so special by Ethan and even Waitey to come out and finish off the way he did, and Henry [Cullen] as well. They’ve been so good all tournament.”
The late heroics earned Worcestershire a first taste of silverware since winning the T20 Blast seven years ago, and a first knockout trophy in the longer one-day format since lifting the NatWest Trophy in 1994.
“It’s been a tough season for everyone with the schedule the way it is,” Richardson said.
“We haven’t played a 50-over game for about three weeks, so we didn’t quite know what to do at the start, but it’s real reward for all of the hard work that they’ve put in.”
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